Jimmie Martinez

Summer of Haint Blue: From Cajun to Creole Jimmie Martinez

"Summer of Haint Blue: From Cajun to Creole" is a compelling and engrossing story that follows a Southern boy's attempts to deal with the evils of racism, and his blossoming multicultural friendships that defies social norms. The novel is set in the politically charged climate of the summer of 1960 and explores the challenging issues of interracial relationships, racial conflict, coming-of-age, and loss of innocence.

"Martinez, whose previous YA novel, Cajun Chameleon (2018), similarly centered on '60s segregation issues in Louisiana, does a good job of capturing the state's various subcultures, not just Black and White, but also rural and urban. He takes the story beyond what could be a mere morality play to show the complexities of race and class prejudices..."
-- Kirkus Review.

"Author Jimmie Martinez captures the raw, beautiful, and painful truths of both rural and urban South during the 1960s in his YA novel, Summer of Haint Blue. A long-form narrative study on race relations and a deep dive into that tumultuous decade, the novel is draped with Spanish moss and Bayou personality, which help to top-dress the strong and compelling plot."
-- Self-Publishing Review.