Book description
Meet Josephine, the most loveable mischief-maker in Barbados, in a magical, heartfelt adventure inspired by Caribbean mythology.
“A heart-wrenching adventure with big laughs and well-earned surprises.” --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
Eleven-year-old Josephine knows that no one is good enough for her daddy. That's why she makes a habit of scaring…
Why read it?
2 authors picked Josephine Against the Sea as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
Josephine Against the Sea was a new find for me since it debuted in 2021, but I instantly connected with the trouble-maker main character. Josephine is desperate to keep her father from finding love after her mother dies, but when a vengeful sea creature tries to steal her father's heart, she must use her talent to save him before it's too late.
I loved learning about Josephine's Caribbean culture living in Barbados. It was also intriguing to read how Shakirah Bourne tackled a mother's death and its effects on the father, as this is a struggle my own characters face…
From Melissa's list on The best middle grade books about kids at odds with the sea.
I fell in love with the Caribbean setting, the imagery, language, and the magic in Josephine Against the Sea. I gravitate towards books that capture my imagination and take me on an adventure and personal journey. The main character, Josephine, and her dad deal with real-life emotions—grief and loss—that I struggle with as well, and their relationship captivated me. I loved how the magical and suspenseful moments highlighted the colorful characters and captured the difficulty of healing in a new and imaginative way.
From Daka's list on The best spooky or magical books when you’re dealing with grief, loss, and fear.
If you love Josephine Against the Sea...
Unfathomable
Did you know you can survive being swallowed by a whale? Or that octopus wrestling used to be an actual sport? Or, that once a town in Oregon didn't know what to do with a whale carcass that washed up on their beaches, so they...BLEW IT UP?
As strange as…
Want books like Josephine Against the Sea?
Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 93 books like Josephine Against the Sea.
Share your top 3 reads of 2026!
And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.
181
readers submitted
so far, will you?
📚 If you like Josephine Against the Sea, you might also like...
From Cells to Ourselves
4.5 billion years ago, Earth was forming - but nothing could have survived there…
From Cells to Ourselves is the incredible story of how life on earth started and how it gradually evolved from the first simple cells to the abundance of life around us today. Walk with dinosaurs, analyse…
Scout and the Rescue Dogs
The summer holidays have finally arrived and Scout can’t wait for her adventure in the big rig with Dad. They’re on a mission to deliver donations of dog food to animal rescue shelters right across the state. There’ll be dad-jokes, rock-collecting, and a brilliant plan that will make sure everyone’s…
