Born in the Storm

Caroline Murphy is born on Water Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands during a hurricane, a fact that becomes both a family legend and a personal curse. Her mother, Doreen, tells the story often, imbuing Caroline's life with a sense of destiny and melancholy. The stormy night of her birth is a metaphor for the turbulence that will define her childhood: her mother's eventual disappearance, her father's sadness, and Caroline's own sense of being marked by misfortune. The island's natural beauty is contrasted with the emotional storms that swirl within Caroline's home, setting the stage for a coming-of-age journey defined by longing, loss, and resilience.

Ghosts in the Mangroves

Living with her father after her mother's departure, Caroline navigates a world filled with both literal and figurative ghosts. The mangroves behind her house are haunted by memories and, perhaps, by real spirits—Caroline often sees a mysterious woman in black, a spectral figure who seems to follow her. The supernatural is woven into the fabric of her daily life, blurring the line between reality and imagination. This haunting presence mirrors Caroline's loneliness and her desperate hope that her mother will return. The mangroves, with their dead trees and singing frogs, become a liminal space where the past and present, the living and the dead, intermingle.

Schoolyard Cruelty

At her Catholic school in St. Thomas, Caroline is an outsider. She is the darkest-skinned girl, the poorest, and the most alone. Her teacher, Mrs. Wilhelmina, is openly colorist and cruel, and the other girls, led by Anise, torment Caroline for her appearance and her mother's absence. The schoolyard becomes a battleground where Caroline's intelligence and resilience are tested daily. She endures physical and emotional abuse, but refuses to cry, determined to maintain her dignity. The cruelty she faces is both personal and systemic, reflecting the broader prejudices of her community and deepening her sense of alienation.

Searching for Mother

The absence of her mother is a wound that never heals. Caroline clings to the hope that her mother will return, collecting postcards from distant places until they stop arriving. Her father, lost in his own grief, is unable to provide answers or comfort. Caroline's longing becomes an obsession—she dreams of stealing her father's boat and searching the seas for her mother. This quest is both literal and symbolic: a search for love, belonging, and identity. The pain of abandonment shapes every aspect of Caroline's life, fueling her determination to find the truth, no matter the cost.

The New Girl Arrives

When Kalinda Francis, a confident and enigmatic girl from Barbados, joins Caroline's class, the social dynamics shift. Kalinda's presence disrupts the established hierarchy—she is different, with her proud posture and thick dreadlocks, and she quickly becomes the center of attention. Caroline is drawn to her, sensing a kindred spirit. Their initial interactions are tentative, but a bond begins to form, offering Caroline the possibility of friendship and acceptance for the first time. Kalinda's arrival is a catalyst for change, challenging Caroline to open her heart and confront her deepest fears.

Seeing the Unseen

Caroline discovers that Kalinda, like herself, can see things others cannot—spirits, omens, and the mysterious woman in black. This shared ability becomes the foundation of their friendship, a secret world that belongs only to them. Together, they navigate the dangers of being different in a community that prizes conformity. Their conversations about ghosts and the supernatural are also conversations about trauma, identity, and the search for meaning. The unseen becomes a metaphor for the hidden parts of themselves, and their connection deepens as they confide in each other.

Friendship and First Love

As their friendship grows, Caroline's feelings for Kalinda evolve into first love—a tender, confusing, and exhilarating experience. They share secrets, gifts, and dreams, finding solace in each other's company. For Caroline, Kalinda is both a lifeline and a mirror, reflecting her own desires and fears. Their relationship is complicated by the expectations of their families, their school, and their culture, but within their private world, they find acceptance and joy. The intensity of their bond is both a source of strength and a vulnerability, as they navigate the challenges of adolescence and forbidden love.

Secrets and Spirits

The girls' shared ability to see spirits becomes a source of both comfort and danger. Caroline is haunted by the woman in black, whom she believes may hold the key to her mother's disappearance. With Kalinda's help, she attempts to communicate with the spirit world, seeking answers that the adults in her life refuse to provide. Their explorations blur the boundaries between reality and fantasy, as the supernatural becomes a way to process grief, trauma, and the mysteries of growing up. The secrets they uncover are as much about themselves as about the world beyond.

Betrayal and Heartbreak

Caroline writes a heartfelt letter to Kalinda, confessing her love. The letter is discovered and read aloud by their tormentors, led by Anise, leading to public humiliation and a rupture in their friendship. Kalinda, fearful and ashamed, distances herself from Caroline, and the fragile world they built together collapses. Caroline is left more isolated than ever, grappling with shame, anger, and the pain of rejection. The betrayal is both personal and societal—a reminder of the risks of vulnerability in a world that punishes difference. This crisis forces Caroline to confront the realities of her identity and the limits of acceptance.

Sisterhood Revealed

In the aftermath of her heartbreak, Caroline learns that she has a half-sister, Bernadette, the product of her father's affair. This revelation complicates her understanding of family, loyalty, and love. The presence of a new sibling is both a threat and an opportunity—a chance to redefine what family means in the wake of abandonment and betrayal. Caroline's relationship with her father is tested, as old wounds are reopened and new ones are inflicted. The discovery of her sister is a turning point, forcing Caroline to reckon with the complexities of forgiveness and belonging.

The Truth About Mothers

With Kalinda's help, Caroline tracks down her mother, who is living with a new family. Their reunion is fraught with emotion—joy, anger, confusion, and grief. Caroline demands answers, and her mother reveals the truth about her departure: depression, loneliness, and the need to find herself. The conversation is raw and honest, shattering Caroline's illusions but also offering the possibility of healing. Caroline must decide whether to forgive her mother and allow her back into her life, or to hold on to her pain. The encounter is a moment of reckoning, marking the end of childhood and the beginning of a more nuanced understanding of love and loss.

Storms and Survival

As a tropical storm approaches, Caroline, overwhelmed by grief and rejection, sets out alone in her father's boat, risking her life in the raging sea. She is nearly drowned, but is saved—perhaps by the mysterious woman in black, perhaps by fate. The storm is both a physical and symbolic trial, forcing Caroline to confront her own will to live and the possibility of hope. Her survival is an act of defiance, a refusal to be destroyed by the forces that have shaped her life. The experience leaves her changed, more aware of her own strength and the presence of unseen protectors.

Letters Across the Sea

Kalinda moves back to Barbados, and the girls are separated by an ocean. Despite the distance, they exchange letters, reaffirming their love and friendship. The act of writing becomes a lifeline, a way to maintain hope and connection in the face of separation. Caroline learns to cherish the miracle of having loved and been loved, even if only for a brief time. The letters are a testament to resilience, the enduring power of memory, and the possibility of reunion. Through words, they bridge the gap between islands, hearts, and futures.

Forgiveness and New Beginnings

In the aftermath of the storm, Caroline begins to repair her relationships—with her father, her mother, and her new sister, Bernadette. She learns to accept the imperfections of those she loves, and to forgive herself for her own mistakes. The process is slow and painful, but it is also liberating. Caroline discovers that family can be chosen as well as inherited, and that love is not diminished by change or loss. She opens herself to new friendships, new possibilities, and a future that is hers to shape. Forgiveness becomes the foundation for growth and healing.

Embracing the Self

As she enters adolescence, Caroline comes to terms with her identity as a "hurricane child"—marked by sorrow, but also by strength and resilience. She learns to value her own voice, her capacity for love, and her right to exist in a world that often tries to erase her. The spirits that once haunted her become sources of wisdom and protection, reminders of the interconnectedness of past, present, and future. Caroline's journey is not one of easy answers or perfect endings, but of courage, self-acceptance, and the ongoing search for belonging. She steps into her future with hope, ready to weather whatever storms may come.

Characters

Caroline Murphy

Caroline is a twelve-year-old girl marked by loss, difference, and longing. Her dark skin, poverty, and mother's abandonment make her an outsider at school and at home. She is fiercely intelligent, stubborn, and sensitive, with a deep connection to the supernatural—seeing spirits that others cannot. Caroline's psychological journey is one of moving from self-doubt and loneliness to self-acceptance and hope. Her love for Kalinda is both a source of joy and pain, challenging her to embrace her true self in a world that punishes difference. Caroline's development is defined by her quest for belonging, her courage in the face of cruelty, and her capacity for forgiveness.

Kalinda Francis

Kalinda is the new girl from Barbados, instantly captivating with her confidence, intelligence, and unique perspective. She shares Caroline's ability to see spirits, creating a bond of trust and understanding. Kalinda is both a mirror and a guide for Caroline, helping her navigate the complexities of identity, love, and loss. Her own struggles with family, belonging, and internalized shame add depth to her character. Kalinda's eventual departure is a profound loss for Caroline, but her letters and memory remain a source of strength and inspiration.

Doreen Murphy (Caroline's Mother)

Doreen is a beautiful, troubled woman whose departure shapes Caroline's life. Her struggle with depression, loneliness, and the constraints of marriage lead her to leave her family and seek a new life. Doreen's choices are both a source of pain and a model of self-assertion for Caroline. Their eventual reunion is fraught with emotion, forcing both mother and daughter to confront the realities of love, forgiveness, and the limits of understanding. Doreen's journey is a reminder of the complexities of motherhood and the necessity of self-care.

Caroline's Father

Caroline's father is a man broken by loss—of his wife, his dreams, and his sense of self. He tries to care for Caroline, but is often distant, distracted, and overwhelmed by his own grief. His affair and the existence of a second daughter, Bernadette, complicate his relationship with Caroline. Despite his flaws, he loves his daughter deeply and ultimately supports her journey toward healing. His development is one of gradual acceptance, vulnerability, and the willingness to rebuild family on new terms.

Anise Fowler

Anise is the ringleader of the girls who bully Caroline at school. She is privileged, popular, and cruel, using Caroline's difference as a weapon. Anise's behavior is driven by her own insecurities and the desire to maintain her status. She embodies the societal prejudices that Caroline must overcome, but is also a product of her environment. Anise's eventual irrelevance in Caroline's life signals the protagonist's growth and the shifting dynamics of power and belonging.

Mrs. Wilhelmina

Mrs. Wilhelmina is Caroline's teacher, a light-skinned woman who internalizes and perpetuates colorism and colonial attitudes. She is harsh, punitive, and dismissive, reinforcing the social hierarchies that isolate Caroline. Her character represents the institutional forces that shape the lives of the children in her care. Mrs. Wilhelmina's inability to see Caroline's worth is both a challenge and a catalyst for the protagonist's self-assertion.

Director Joe (Loretta Joseph)

Director Joe is the school principal and a former best friend of Caroline's mother. She provides guidance, support, and a model of independent womanhood. Her own history of love, loss, and resilience offers Caroline a broader perspective on family, friendship, and identity. Director Joe's presence is a stabilizing force, helping Caroline navigate the complexities of her world and encouraging her to find her own voice.

Bernadette

Bernadette is Caroline's younger half-sister, the product of her father's affair. Her existence is initially a source of pain and jealousy for Caroline, but also an opportunity for growth and expanded understanding of family. Bernadette's innocence and longing for connection mirror Caroline's own desires, and their eventual relationship offers hope for healing and reconciliation.

The Woman in Black

The mysterious woman in black is a recurring supernatural presence in Caroline's life. She is both a source of fear and, ultimately, comfort—a symbol of the unresolved grief, longing, and ancestral connection that shape Caroline's journey. The woman in black represents the ways in which the past haunts the present, but also the possibility of guidance and protection from unseen forces.

Marie ("María Antonieta")

Marie is a white classmate, often called "María Antonieta" by the others. She is quiet, marginalized in her own way, and eventually becomes a tentative friend to Caroline. Marie's silence and difference offer a counterpoint to the loud cruelty of Anise and her clique, suggesting the possibility of solidarity among outsiders.

Plot Devices

Magical Realism and the Supernatural

The novel employs magical realism, with spirits, omens, and supernatural events woven seamlessly into the everyday lives of the characters. Caroline's ability to see ghosts—especially the woman in black—serves as both a literal and metaphorical exploration of grief, trauma, and the search for meaning. The supernatural is not an escape from reality, but a way to process and understand it, allowing the characters (and readers) to grapple with the complexities of loss, identity, and hope.

Epistolary Elements

The exchange of letters—between Caroline and her mother, and later between Caroline and Kalinda—serves as a crucial narrative device. Letters represent longing, connection, and the enduring power of love, even in the face of separation. They allow characters to express truths that cannot be spoken aloud, and to maintain hope when all else seems lost.

Nonlinear Narrative and Memory

The story moves fluidly between past and present, memory and reality, creating a tapestry of experiences that shape Caroline's understanding of herself and her world. Flashbacks, dreams, and stories told by others provide context and depth, revealing the hidden wounds and secret hopes that drive the characters. This structure mirrors the nonlinear process of healing and self-discovery.

Symbolism of Storms and Water

Hurricanes, storms, and the sea are recurring symbols, representing both danger and possibility. Caroline's birth during a hurricane, her near-drowning, and her journeys by boat all reflect the tumultuous emotional landscape she must navigate. Water is both a threat and a source of life, mirroring the dualities of love and loss, fear and hope.

Social Realism and Intersectionality

The novel grounds its magical elements in a vivid depiction of Caribbean life, with its unique blend of cultures, histories, and social hierarchies. Issues of race, colorism, poverty, and queerness are explored with nuance and honesty, highlighting the intersecting forces that shape Caroline's experience. The personal is always political, and the characters' struggles are inseparable from the world they inhabit.

Analysis

Hurricane Child is a powerful exploration of what it means to grow up different—in skin, in family, in heart—on a small island where conformity is enforced and secrets are dangerous. Kacen Callender weaves together the supernatural and the everyday to create a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. The novel confronts the pain of abandonment, the cruelty of prejudice, and the terror of first love, but it also celebrates the courage to seek connection, the beauty of chosen family, and the necessity of self-acceptance. In a world that often tells children like Caroline that they are unworthy, the story insists on their right to exist, to love, and to hope. Through storms literal and metaphorical, Caroline learns that survival is not just about enduring pain, but about claiming joy, forging bonds, and embracing the fullness of her own identity. The book's lessons—about forgiveness, the complexity of family, and the power of being seen—are as urgent and necessary today as ever.

Last updated: April 30, 2025