UNDER WATER by J. L. Powers

UNDER WATER by J.L. Powers

After her grandmother dies, seventeen-year-old Khosi must learn to survive on her own-taking care of her little sister Zi, making a living as a healer, and trying to finish school somehow. But everywhere she turns in her urban Zulu community near Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, she faces violence and loss.

When her beloved township Imbali flares up in violence, Khosi finds herself at the center of the storm. Accusations of witchcraft swirl around her, despite her every effort to keep her healing practice as a sangoma aboveboard. Competing taxi bosses seek her out for protective charms as they go on the warpath against each other. And then there’s the whole problem of love and romance.

Jessica (J.L. Powers, author) has worked as an editor for the diverse publisher Cinco Puntos Press for a number of years. Last year she launched her own publishing company, Catalyst Press and Story Press Africa. Both reflect her deep love, knowledge and respect for the people and stories of Africa. Catalyst Press brought to U.S. readers the remarkable book, WE KISS THEM WITH RAIN, written by Futhi Ntshingila and was selected this year by USBBY as an Outstanding International Book.

In her own words, Jessica explains her connection to the people of Africa:

The summer I turned nineteen, I worked with street children in Kenya, and quickly leapt into a genuine love for African people that went on to sustain me as a graduate student of African history, as a learner of Zulu/Xhosa/Ndebele and currently Afrikaans, and now as a publisher of African writers. I have spent the last decade in and out of southern Africa, loving the many people there who have chosen to embrace me as a friend and family member. Yet I still have a very strong connection and pull to the Mexican Border, where my family still lives.  

From https://umakrishnaswami.org/2018/07/31/j-l-powers-on-writing-publishing-and-being-a-third-culture-kid/

Read UNDER WATER. You will never forget Khosi’s story. You will also have a newer, deeper, and truer perspective of daily life in Imbali.   And then read, WE KISS THEM WITH RAIN.

“…Powers’ story is engaging. The depiction of life in Imbali, Africa, is ray and honest … Khosi’s questions about what she’s meant to do in life will ring familiar with young adult readers.”  Booklist

“… true-to-life examination of adolescence, cultural complexities, and global issues.:      New Pages

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.