Kemosha of the Caribbean

Nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Writing'A vivid and powerful story ... Another tour de force by Alex Wheatle, a truly gifted storyteller' David OlusogaKemosha and her brother have lived their whole lives in slavery. Sold away to work in lawless Port Royal, Kemosha takes her chance to escape brutal treatment. With fortune on her side, Kemosha befriends Ravenhide, a man with a mysterious past who teaches her the art of swordfighting, and introduces her to the beautiful runaway Isabella.Yet Kemosha's greatest test yet is upon the deck of the Satisfaction: the notorious Captain Morgan’s ship. His next adventure on the high seas could be the making of Kemosha – and her one chance to earn enough pieces of eight to buy the freedom of her brother...

Short-listed for Renaissance Learning Quiz Writers' Choice Award (UK). Long-listed for Redbridge Children's Book Awards (UK). Nominated for Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing 2023 (UK)

"A vivid and powerful story centred around the struggles of a young enslaved woman who is determined to stand up for herself and fight for what is right, often in the face of danger and cruelty. Another tour de force by Alex Wheatle a truly gifted storyteller" -- David Olusoga
"[A] stunning historical adventure … Wheatle has a big heart, an easy style and natural empathy" The Times, Children's Book of the Week
"A thrilling YA pirate adventure, filled with the grimmest details of history and a joyous sense of what happens when the oppressed are empowered" Guardian
"A thrilling high seas adventure… Kemosha’s indomitable spirit, determination and wit make for an unforgettable heroine" Observer
"There's pirates, cut-throats and swashbuckling action, but the star turn is the fierce and unforgettable heroine in pursuit of her freedom and the girl she loves" The Bookseller, Editor's Choice

Alex Wheatle is the author of several acclaimed novels, many of them inspired by experiences from his childhood. He was born in Brixton to Jamaican parents, and spent most of his childhood in a Surrey children’s home. Following a short stint in prison following the Brixton uprising of 1981, he wrote poems and lyrics and became known as the Brixtonbard. Alex has been longlisted for the Carnegie Medal, won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award, and was awarded an MBE for services to literature in 2008.

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