The Root Worker (Advanced Reading Copy/ARC)

An eleven-year-old black girl, Ellen's world is a scary place. Her Catholic school has instilled in her a fear of sins she doesn't understand, while her mother, caught under the sway of a voodoo priestess, believes Ellen is possessed of evil spirits. All Ellen wants is a place she can feel safe, but it will take everything she has to restore her trust in people. A strong debut that recalls Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye' - Booklist 'A challenging, strongly written debut by a writer with the compassion and courage to peer into a very dark place' - Publishers Weekly'