The Modern Folklore Industry

The Rise of Folklore-Inspired Young Adult Literature in the Caribbean: In the past 5 – 10 years, Caribbean young adult literature has experienced a storytelling renaissance, with authors weaving traditional folklore into compelling narratives that capture teen readers’ imaginations.

Trailblazing Titles & Authors

Tracey Baptiste’s Jumbies (published by Llewellyn, 2015): Baptiste reimagines Caribbean folklore jumbies in a thrilling middle-grade/YA series. This series popularized folklore-based in the Caribbean diasporic and was one of the first to come. The first book introduces Corinne La Mer on a mission to stop a jumbie threat in her island home. In book 2, Rise of the Jumbies (2017), Corinne faces a new threat when children go missing and The Jumbie God’s Revenge (2019), The epic conclusion involves storms and supernatural power as Corinne confronts the jumbie God Huracan.
Barbadian Shakirah Bourne’s – Josephine Against the Sea (North American edition, Scholastic, 2021), Originally published in the Caribbean as My Fishy Stepmom (Blue Banyan Books, 2019), this middle grade fantasy follows an 11-year-old cricketer who uncovers her father’s mysterious new girlfriend is not human. Shakirah then went on to publish Nightmare Island (Scholastic, 2023) and Beware the Heartman (Scholastic, 2024)
Ciannon Smart’s Witches Steeped in Gold (published by HarperCollins, 2021)
A YA dark fantasy rooted in Jamaican mythology and Obeah traditions, this novel offers richly crafted folklore blended with political intrigue.
Trinidadian Danielle Y. C. McClean’ s and her Secrets of Oscuros folklore series, published with Caribbean Reads. Book 1, The Protectors Pledge (2016) follows 12-year-old JV who ventures into the mysterious Oscuros Forest in his village of Alcavere. When a fellow villager disappears, JV must confront mythical creatures, including Papa Bois, and uphold a sacred promise to save his community. The story continues in Book 2, the Whisperer’s Warning (2022).
Trinidadian Marsha Gomes-Mc Kie’s, Mystikal Jacks Series, focuses on bringing Caribbean folklore to the fore from the Caribbean. The first book Makayla in the land of Papa Bois, (2023) sees Makayla, along with her brother Malcolm and foster sister Amaya, diving into folklore via Granny enchanted Jack’s game. They must face 10 levels to return home. In the second book Makayla in Mama D’Leau’s Underwater Kingdom (2024). They enter the underwater realm of Mama D’Leau, guided by a bossy octopus and a playful mermaid, while facing threats like the Massacooraaman. In Makayla and the Soucouyant’s Secret (2025), the trio progresses to the fiery third level of the Mystikal Jacks game, where the confront rock monsters, tar‑babies, and a fiery soucouyant. This series exposes young readers to many different folklore characters, the popular ones and those sometimes forgotten.

Why It Matters

Folklore Revival: Each book brings Caribbean myths vividly to life, ensuring that local legends are passed down to younger generations in engaging, modern and contemporary formats. The development of this emerging genre of Caribbean Mythology is likely to progress as additional works are incorporated into the category, but it will not solidify itself as a genre if Caribbean writers don’t pay attention to it.
Middle-Grade Appeal: The adventure-game structure appeals to readers aged 7–18, blending fun, suspense, and moral challenges. There is room in the market for children’s books that cater to a younger age and even adult contemporary themes where you can make more of a historical impact.
Representation & Inspiration: Featuring children of Caribbean heritage, the series offers relatable protagonists and strengthens cultural identity. For example, in the Mystikal Jacks series, young readers get the opportunity to see themselves reflected in exciting, magical adventures rooted in their own culture. The protagonists, Makayla, Malcolm, and Amaya are not only relatable in their personalities and sibling dynamics, but they also speak, think, and respond to the world in ways that mirror the Caribbean experience. This authentic representation affirms to readers that their stories, environments, and cultural backgrounds are worthy of being told and celebrated.

By navigating challenges inspired by regional folklore as always being evil, the children meet modern folklore with a purpose, motives, and diverse personalities. Heroes in tales that would traditionally cast outsiders or mythical beings from foreign lands. This shift is both empowering and inspiring, reinforcing a sense of pride and identity in young readers. It encourages them to embrace their heritage, ask questions about traditional stories, and recognize the value of their cultural roots in shaping who they are. Through imaginative storytelling and familiar voices, Mystikal Jacks helps cultivate confidence, curiosity, and a deeper connection to Caribbean legacy and community.

Indie Publishing Power: Aajumbee Publishing’s dedication highlights the potential of regional small presses in fostering Caribbean voices and narratives.

Publishers Embracing Caribbean Folklore

Caribbean-Based Publishers

CaribbeanReads Publishing (St Kitts)
- Based in St. Kitts, with a mission to promote Caribbean voices. caribbeanreads.com
- Publishes The Protectors’ Pledge series by Danielle Y. C. McClean, among others.
Aajumbee Publishing House (Trinidad and Tobago)
- Focused on children’s books inspired by Caribbean legends, faiths, and folk characters. aajumbeepublishinghouse.wordpress.com
- Publisher of the YA Mystikal Jacks series, upcoming Children’s books include, Papa Bois saved the day, Mama D’Leau lends and Hand, and Moko Madness.
Blue Banyan Books (Jamaica)
- Specializes in Caribbean children’s literature. bluebanyanbooks.com
- First published Shakirah Bourne’s My Fishy Stepmom (the Caribbean edition of Josephine Against the Sea).
Papillote Press (Dominica/UK)
- Focuses on Caribbean stories for all ages, including folklore-based tales and cultural heritage.

International Publishers Supporting Caribbean Folklore

Scholastic Press (USA)
- Published the North American editions of:
  - The Jumbies series by Tracey Baptiste
  - Josephine Against the Sea and Nightmare Island by Shakirah Bourne
- Introduced Caribbean folklore into the mainstream middle-grade market.
HarperCollins (UK/USA)
- Published Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart, a Jamaican-inspired YA fantasy rooted in Obeah and island mythology.
Hamish Hamilton (Penguin Random House UK)
- Published When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo, a literary novel grounded in Trinidadian spiritual beliefs and folklore.

Emerging & Independent Publishers

Peepal Tree Press (UK)
- Although known for literary fiction, they support Caribbean myth-inspired work through poetry, short stories, and anthologies.

A Cultural & Literary Turning Point

Folklore, stories of jumbies, ancestors, spirits, anchors young readers to ancestral heritage, strengthening regional pride and memory. These stories bring fresh mythologies to global YA and Children’s literature, standing out among Eurocentric fantasy by showcasing Caribbean cosmologies. Caribbean teens, who are the next group of creators see themselves as protagonists in magical worlds with familiar lore, fostering cultural validation and emotional resonance.

The current trend reflects a broader shift: Caribbean publishers and international houses alike are embracing “Own Voices” an authentic narrative rooted in lived culture. This evolution marks folklore not only as a storytelling tool but as cultural reclamation, bridging history with modern identity. As more authors emerge in every genre and regional publishers grow, the next decade promises even richer, more diverse mythical tales emerging from Caribbean shores.

Join me on 12th July at the Tobago Library for a Trinidad and Tobago Writers Guild Workshop, where we will discuss folklore, matching genres and writing for a modern audience.

Aajumbee Publishing House is based in Trinidad, in the Caribbean. Aajumbee publishes a range of genres from Children, Youth Adult, Fantasy Romance and Non-Fiction.

Distribution: Amazon’s Print on demand services provides booksellers with a competitive price, you can enjoy economies of scale in shipping and set your own prices.

Some of the Titles are available in Trinidad at