Scholastic
July 1, 2010
Paperback
September 1, 2011
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The Healing Spell
Deep in the bayou country, Livie Moulaison’s mother arrives home from the hospital in a coma. Daddy is determined she will only get better surrounded by the people who love her best, but Livie is terrified of her mother’s lifeless condition and wracked by a guilty secret. The household is turned upside down when Aunt Colleen comes to nurse Mamma, but Livie and her cousin Thibodaux clash from the get-go. This annoying kid seems to know what her worst fears are – and plays on those fears to torment her. Finally, Livie travels into the forbidden recesses of the swamp to buy a healing spell from the mysterious traiteur in hopes that she can bring her mother back to life.
HEALING SPELL jacket art (pdf)
Bank Street College Best Book of 2011!!!
The Healing Spell WON the Whitney Award for the Best Youth Novel of 2010!
AND a Crystal Kite Finalist!
AND A New Mexico Book Award Finalist!
Trailer
Reviews
"An incantational tale of Cajun magic and gators on the bayou and of the love and silence between mother and daughter."
-RICHARD PECK, Newbery Medalist
"The Healing Spell is an atmospheric, affecting story of hope and devotion, as elegant and mysterious as bayou country itself."
-CYNTHIA LEITICH SMITH, acclaimed author of Tantalize and Eternal
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: Gr 5-8- "Guilt-ridden because she believes she caused the accident that resulted in her mother being in a coma, 11-year-old Livie is terrified to tell anyone for fear they will hate her. She and her mother have never been close, but she adores her father and spends a lot of time with him in the Louisiana swamps where they live. Daddy chooses to care for Mamma at home, believing it will hasten her recovery, and Livie can't bear to touch her, which causes friction with her older sister and the aunt who's come to help out. Because she desperately wants her mother to be well, the girl visits a traiteur who lives deep in the bayou to obtain a healing spell guaranteed to work if Livie has faith. The setting is beautifully described and the protagonist is well-defined."
BOOKLIST: "Little explores the extremes of childhood guilt and its consequences in this harsh yet well-crafted story about fully drawn people. The bayou, with its rich culture, is an atmospheric character that overlays the story with mystery and dread. A special offering for readers seeking a challenge of the heart as well as the mind." Grades 5-8.
CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: "Middle school readers will find a realistic yet haunting quality to Livie's life in the bayou. While there is an exotic feel to the description of the lush green and the cool swirling water, Livie's experiences are the universal experiences of growing up to face who you are and where you fit in."
SUNDAY ADVERTISER: "A wonderful coming-of-age story."
Comments
28 Responses | Comments Feed
I can’t wait to read it!!!! It sounds so good!!!
awesome book will read it again!!
THIS BOOK IS SO AWESOME YOU DID A GREAT JOB WRITING THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
im with u
Please make a sequal to this book!! I loved it!! I also want to see what happens between Livie and TJacuases(sorry if his name is spelled wrong.)!!!
Hurrah! In the end I got a blog from where I can really obtain useful information regarding my study
and knowledge.
I am a mom and a special education para-educator. What a great book based on compassion, truth, hardship, along with some mystery and fun. I too wish there was a sequel…How Mama greets all when she is awake finally. How does her and Livie’s relationship change…Faye’s knew journey, as well as Livie’s relationship with TJaques…so much more you could make a sequel with. I also will look forward to recommending this book to others, as well as looking forward to reading more of your books. Thanks and I will keep an eye out for that sequel…A Family Healed?
YOU SIGNED MY BOOK!! I love your work and hoping for a sequel!!
I read this in class with my teacher and I loved loved loved it. We finished it already but I was so emotional and so were my friends. I would totally read this again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love hearing this, Kathryn! So happy you loved The Healing Spell so much. Now you’ll have to read my other three Bayou Bridge books. 🙂
I loved The Healing Spell. I was an amazing story. It was almost impossible top put down. I practically cried after finishing it. PLEASE MAKE A SEQUEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Im doing a book report over it for extra credit at school! I cant find the traiteurs name. I already donated the book to my school library so i cant look i up. Do you remember it?
Never mind! thanks to that trailer i now remember her name! thank you!
Dear Jocelyn,
Thank you so much for your sweet note. I’m so happy you loved The Healing Spell! Hearing that really makes my whole day.
Yes, I’ve written three sequels to it. They are all set in Bayou Bridge with different girls and different stories, but they’re all tied together and they all have Miz Mirage Allemand, the traiteur in them. 🙂
All the book titles are below. Hopefully you can find them at the school or public library. And they’re available to purchase at any bookstore or Amazon, B&N, etc. They’re on Kindle, too.
I hope you get a chance to read them! Thanks again for writing to me!
All my best,
~Kimberley
THE HEALING SPELL, Bank Street College Best Books, Whitney Award-Winner!
CIRCLE OF SECRETS, Whitney Award Finalist, *starred* in School Library Journal
WHEN THE BUTTERFLIES CAME, Bank Street College Best Books
THE TIME OF THE FIREFLIES, Whitney Award Finalist, AML Award Finalist, Bank Street College Best Books
What is the second book or is there not a second book to the Healing Spell because I am left on a cliff hanger and I need to know.
I read the book the time of the fireflies it was a realy realy good book
Thank you so much, Raya!! 🙂
The Healing Spell was an amazing book! I loved it so much! I usually read book within a week or two but I read this book in 4 days! I read it at the beach, sitting in bed and in the pool! This book was an inspiring, thoughtful book that I would definitely read again! The suspense kept me reading and I hate reading. Thank you for writing this fantastic book and I can’t wait to read more of your books.
I have read all of your books and I loved them so much. You are an amazing author and keep making books!
This book is so beautiful, I’ve read it 4 times now, and it’s always so beautiful and uplifting each time. I first bought this book when I was 10, now I’m 15. Thank you for this work of art! It never fails to bring tears to my eyes, it’s so hard to believe that it’s about an 11-year-old. Better than most books I’ve read, even as a teenager. One of my top 10, for sure 🙂
I thought you might enjoy this picture of my daughter reading your book: https://www.instagram.com/p/-JxB-qPHtc/
Is this book available as an audiobook? I would love for my class to hear it being read while they follow along with the book!
I loved the healing spell. I think one of the the reasons I and so many others like it so much is because Livie is so relatable. This is definitely one of my favorite books. I’m a freshman and I’ve read this like 20 times. I have to do a book report and this is definitely going to be my book choice. Thank you do much for making such an amazing book that impacts the lives of so many people. I can’t wait to read the other books. Keep writing. Such talent shouldn’t go to waste. <3 : {0
What is the age of Crickett in the book?
Is there another book about livie after the Healing Spell because I really love the book and I need to know.
Yes, read CIRCLE OF SECRETS about Miz Mirage’s daughter and you will learn more about Livie at the end of it. Thanks for reading! 🙂
I have read the Healing Spell and I loved it! I want to read the other 3 books set in the bayou, but none of the 4 books are at my library (Coweta Public Library System). Is there any way to have library copies of the books sent to my library? Thanks! P.S. Keep writing more bayou books!
~Keely R.
It can’t end their dose the mom wake up on her birthday like I prodected or dose it have a second book .I’d cried when t baby died .why do books do this . over all I loved the book