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Tracey Baptiste

I use adventure to create readers, and story to create thinkers.

By weaving mythology, history, science, and real-world issues into adventure, fantasy, horror, and science fiction, I create stories that spark curiosity, deepen learning, and stay with readers long after the last page.

Misty and her cousins are swept up in the world of art when strange dust bunnies appear and pieces of world-class paintings and sculptures begin to absorb people, inexplicably trapping them in works of art.

Moko Magic: Museum Mayhem

As Coal Keegan settles into his new life with the McKays, he discovers that there may be someone else who has his powers. But who they are and what they want remain a mystery.

Kid X

On Super Goat Girl's first day at her new school, she's met with stares. Laserbeam Lass, Robo Kid, and Noodle Boy don't know what to make of her—after all, what kind of a super has no swagger, and not even a cape? How will Super Goat Girl ever fit in?

Super Goat Girl

Win "Coal" Keegan discovers he can turn invisible and it's only the beginning of the adventure. When a mysterious tech guru and the U.S. military are after him, he needs to figure out who he is and where this ability came from, fast.

BOY 2.0

A trio of cousins discover they have powers of healing, vision, and protection from an ancient ancestor: a moko jumbie. Together, they have to use their moko magic to protect the magical community in the lead-up to the Caribbean Day Parade in Brooklyn.

Moko Magic: Carnival Chaos

Ten real-life kings, queens, inventors, scholars, and visionaries who lived in Africa thousands of years ago come to life in this wonderfully researched book with beautiful illustrations by Hillary Wilson.

African Icons: Ten People who Shaped History
NEW Paperback Edition!

Book 1 of the Jumbies series.
Corinne La Mer isn’t afraid of anything--certainly not jumbies. They’re just tricksters made up by parents to frighten children. Then one night Corinne goes into the forbidden forest, and shining yellow eyes follow her. They couldn’t belong to a jumbie. Or could they?

The Jumbies

Book 2 of the Jumbies series.
Corinne La Mer defeated the wicked jumbie Severine months ago, but things haven’t gone back to normal on her island home. When children begin to go missing, snatched from the beach and vanishing into wells, suspicious eyes turn to Corinne.

Rise of the Jumbies

Book 3 of the Jumbies series.
The scariest and most heart-pounding installment of the highly praised and popular Jumbies series!
Huracan summons the wind and rain and wields lightning like a sword. He doesn’t miss and he never falters. He will destroy everything in his path if he desires.

The Jumbie God’s Revenge

"I'm looking for a jumbie, I'm gonna find a scary one!" sings Naya as she heads out into the forest looking for adventure. What will she find?

Looking for a Jumbie

Glub glub…
Aargh...
Mermaid and Pirate don't speak the same language, but they’re quick to lend a hand, or a tail, when the sky grows stormy and waters get rough, and a friendship is born.

Mermaid and Pirate

by Tracey Baptiste

Books

Visits

School

Book Now

“The origin story of our new favorite superhero.” — Jason Reynolds (New York Times bestselling author of Long Way Down) “Downright irresistible .” — Kwame Alexander (Newbery Medal-winning author of The Crossover) “Captivating. Innovative. Original. Perfection.” — Renée Watson (#1 New York Times bestselling author of Black Girl You Are Atlas and Piecing Me Together) “Boy 2.0 is as ingenious as it is impossible to put down.” — Anne Ursu (National Book Award longlisted Author of Not Quite a Ghost)

BOY 2.0

Publishers Weekly

"Lively alternating third-person perspectives center immigrant and Caribbean experiences with humor and heart, culminating in an engaging mystery that emphasizes the high spirits of the festival season and its importance to the tweens’ Afro-Caribbean heritage." — starred review

Moko Magic: Carnival Chaos

Kirkus

"Brimming with sweetness, the illustrations add a Disney aesthetic to this simple tale of the burgeoning bond between two very different friends...A winsome tale of unexpected friendship."

Mermaid and Pirate

Publishers Weekly

“A powerful narrative that showcases generative energy of acts of resistance both big and small.” —starred review

Because Claudette

Kirkus

“What Baptiste accomplishes in only 139 pages of narrative is near miraculous....Refreshingly free of generalizations, this impressively researched work was clearly a massive undertaking (as evidenced by the source notes)...The result is empowering, necessary, and required reading for all. Game changing.” — starred review

African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History

School Library Journal

"A vibrant and entertaining tale filled with mythical creatures from Caribbean stories that is perfect for Halloween and year-round."

Looking for a Jumbie

Kirkus

“With this strong return to the Jumbies series, Baptiste engages all the senses, from the taste of sweet oranges to the scent of salty air . . . [Corinne’s] determination, compassion, and bravery will inspire readers to face down any challenges crossing their paths. Baptiste carefully represents Caribbean diversity . . . A tremendous return.” — starred review

The Jumbie God’s Revenge

“Far more than just your average spooky supernatural story, Baptiste uses the underpinnings of a classic folktale to take a closer look at colonization, rebellion, and what it truly takes to share the burden of tolerating the 'other.' Plus there are monsters. Gotta love the monsters.”

The Jumbies

“A spine-tingling tale rooted in Caribbean folklore that will have readers holding their breath as they fly through its pages. Be forewarned! This tale isn’t some cozy, tropical vacation and it’s not for the weak at heart, oh, no! If you like spooky tales, this is the book for you. Corinne’s story is truly a welcome and refreshing [addition] to the world of fairytales.”

The Jumbies

Jahmal Lake

SCHOOL VISIT review: Your interaction with the students at Hamilton Grange was really impressive, it was amazing to see them connect with you and vice-versa. It was great getting to know about the Jumbies’ backstory and I love how you’ve brought West Indian culture mainstream in the US. --Jahmal, New York City

Phoebe Lichty

SCHOOL VISIT review: Thank you so much for the amazing presentation you did for our 6th graders here yesterday afternoon. They were so engaged, and I think they could have kept you with questions for another hour! You are so generous and kind—and the students really responded to you. It was super cool to get a peek at your office and a window into what it's like to be a writer. --Phoebe, Brooklyn, NY

School Library Journal

“Gr 5-8–A thrilling superhero origin story. Win “Coal” Keegan, 13, has just been placed in a new foster home and he takes a walk through the neighborhood to scout locations for his chalk art. A neighbor fires a gun at him and he is chased by the police. Coal is terrified; his fear triggers a family gift and Coal’s skin becomes invisible. In his search for the cause behind his newfound power, Coal catches the attention of Mirror Tech Industries and must find his answers before they find him. The McKay kids, his new foster siblings, are quick to rally around Coal as he learns more about his new ability. Friendships new and old bring the perfect amount of levity and humor to a highly suspenseful story. Although this is a superhero tale, Baptiste beautifully weaves in a variety of significant topics like racial justice, science, and mindfulness. The villains’ search for Coal resolves itself very quickly at the end, but hopefully the origin story here paves the way for future adventures. Coal and the McKays are cued Black and most other characters are racially ambiguous. VERDICT This is sure to be a hit with fans of the X-Men franchise, but Baptiste’s inclusion of real-world topics is the story’s true superpower.” — starred review

BOY 2.0