CONJURE ISLAND

In this audio tale of magical realism, Del Baker's life is upturned when Gramma's emergency surgery forces him to live with his previously unknown Great-Nana at a conjure school in South Carolina. Narrator Bahni Turpin spins her own magic as she gives voice to a range of characters with unique quirks: Nana Rose is nurturing even when Del makes mistakes, haint Jube responds to requests with a drawl, teacher Nyla and friend Eva speak with Gullah accents, and alligator Ol' Lundy growls when giving advice. Turpin's youthful voice for Del is filled with emotion as the teen first feels resentment at being relocated and then evolves from being skeptical about conjure magic to embracing it--all while researching Gramma's mysterious history. S.D.B. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2023]