Root Magic

by Eden Royce

"A poignant, necessary entry into the children's literary canon, Root Magic brings to life the history and culture of Gullah people while highlighting the timeless plight of Black Americans. Add in a fun, magical adventure and you get everything I want in a book!"--Justina Ireland, New York Times bestselling author of Dread Nation

Debut author Eden Royce arrives with a wondrous story of love, bravery, friendship, and family, filled to the brim with magic great and small.

It's 1963, and things are changing for Jezebel Turner. Her beloved grandmother has just passed away. The local police deputy won't stop harassing her family. With school integration arriving in South Carolina, Jez and her twin brother, Jay, are about to begin the school year with a bunch of new kids. But the biggest change comes when Jez and Jay turn eleven-- and their uncle, Doc, tells them he's going to train them in rootwork.

Jez and Jay have always been fascinated by the African American folk magic that has been the legacy of their family for generations--especially the curious potions and powders Doc and Gran would make for the people on their island. But Jez soon finds out that her family's true power goes far beyond small charms and elixirs...and not a moment too soon. Because when evil both natural and supernatural comes to show itself in town, it's going to take every bit of the magic she has inside her to see her through.


How Self-Paced Book Club Classes Work

Participation in the self-paced book club includes immediate access to a set of resources and activities to be completed at your own pace.

Families are welcome to use as many or as few of the suggested resources and activities as they'd like to fit their interest and schedules.

Book Club Materials

  • Suggested Reading Schedule

  • Reading Guides with Comprehension Questions (PDF)

  • Vocabulary and Reading Activities

  • Writing/Multimodal Project Prompts

  • Video Discussion of the Book

  • Final Project Feedback Rubrics

Ages:

9-13

Content Note:

Accurate historical portrayals of systemic and individual racism, violence, loss of family member, discrimination, bullying, supernatural horror (age-appropriate), magic. This book is generally appropriate for tween readers.

Supplies:

  • A copy of the book Root Magic by Eden Royce (ISBN: 9780062899576).
    Used and borrowed copies will work just fine! If your learner is going to participate in final projects and reading guides, I recommend having a physical copy even if they primarily read the ebook or audiobook. (Dayla Learning Bookshop Link)
  • PDF reader
  • Access to printer recommended


Basic Enrollment

Meet Your Teacher!

Sabrina Weiss

Dr. Weiss has been teaching and facilitating online courses and enrichment activities for over 5 years and specializes in thought-provoking discussions and topics. Dr. Sabrina Weiss earned a B.S. from Stanford’s Science, Technology, and Society program, an M.S. in Bioethics from Albany Medical College, and a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a former U.S. Naval Officer who served overseas in Japan. They love fantasy, science fiction, and gaming (video and tabletop), and enjoy encouraging learners to pursue their passions as a way to build skills.