Kaya Abaniah and the Father of the Forest
by Wayne Gerard Trotman
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Pub Date Jan 31 2015 | Archive Date Mar 05 2018
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Description
Legends are immortal dreams made flesh…
Kaya Abaniah believes he’s an ordinary fourteen-year-old college student. He lives with his mother on the Caribbean island of Trinidad; he’s passionate about wildlife conservation and has a crush on the prettiest girl in his class.
However, one fateful day, Kaya’s life is changed forever when he encounters Papa Bois, a folklore character similar to the Greek god, Pan.
Kaya learns he has the talent. He’s a telepath, and he’s not alone. He discovers that men in black are constantly watching him, Soucouyant, the shape-shifting vampire wants his blood, and his packed lunch is never safe.
Will Kaya succeed in protecting his relatives and friends from the supernatural evils that lurk on the tropic isle? Can he reveal the shape-shifter’s secret identity? And, why on Earth is the most gorgeous girl, he’s ever known, so interested in him?
Follow Kaya’s struggles with love, rivalry, and academic life, as he confronts the terrifying creatures of Trinidad and Tobago’s folklore, and unlocks the shocking mystery of Papa Bois, the father of the forest.
About Kaya Abaniah and the Father of the Forest:
Kaya Abaniah (Kah-yuh Abba-na-yuh) is a boy's name. Kaya Abaniah and the Father of the Forest is a unique story, set in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. In this two-island Caribbean nation, inhabited primarily by people of African and Indian descent, Trinidadian English is the official spoken language, and Standard English is the official written language. However, Kaya speaks authentic Trinidadian Creole, which is similar, but distinct from Tobagonian Creole. Trinbagonians (Trinidadians and Tobagonians) use Creole in spontaneous conversation, while Trinidadian English is often reserved for more formal speech. Various combinations of English, Trinidadian English, and Creole are not uncommon.
Kaya Abaniah and the Father of the Forest was the most recent work academically reviewed in Supernatural Literature, a 3-volume encyclopaedia published by St. James Press, which covers literature of the supernatural across the canon, including such notable works as Homer's Iliad, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
Advance Praise
“Wayne Gerard Trotman fuses elements of science fiction, magical realism, myth, and folklore to comment on environmental, cultural, and economic changes in the author’s native Trinidad and Tobago.
The work’s central mythical characters, Papa Bois and the soucouyant, are both monstrous figures drawn from the folklore of Trinidad and Tobago whose transformative abilities are integral not only to the text’s plot but also to the development of its themes.” ~ Sean Hutchison, Supernatural Literature, 1st Edition, Volume 3: Monsters and Beasts.
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"After his epic Veterans of the Psychic Wars, Trotman does an excellent job of writing to a younger audience in Kaya Abaniah. He expertly blends science fiction with the local folklore and pressing environmental issues of his native Trinidad. In an age where youngsters seem to be losing the magic of the written word, Kaya Abaniah has strong appeal for teenage readers.
Its pages come alive with suspense, intrigue, local history, teenage romance, and above all - vivid and realistic depictions of alien life - leaving the reader eagerly anticipating the next instalment in Trotman's trilogy. As a Trinidadian, I feel very strongly that Kaya Abaniah should be included in the local Secondary School English Literature curriculum, not least because Trotman provides powerful inspiration for the budding authors and artists of Trinidad and Tobago." ~ Nandini
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"New Statesman: What was the last book that changed your thinking?
Benjamin Zephaniah: Wayne Gerard Trotman’s The Kairi Chronicles. I would never have thought you could set science fiction in the Caribbean." ~ Benjamin Zephaniah Q&A by New Statesman
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"Trotman, a native of Trinidad, brings his personal knowledge of Trinidadian culture to the book. The novel explores the animals, food, and religion of the island in great detail. Trotman relies on his experiences to create likeable characters who grow as the plot progresses. The reader learns a great deal about Trinidad, its animals, and food and culture in great detail.
The ideas and themes of the story are very focused and well-developed. The organization is easy to follow. Trotman’s real talent is in descriptive word choice. The story navigates between Standard English and Trinidad Creole. The dialogue moves the plot forward.
The novel is intended for young adults; I recommend high school as there is violence and some suggestion of typical high school flirtations and sexual innuendoes. The Creole dialect and slang do require close reading to understand the characters. I read the book in about five hours. My verdict? Fans of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter will love this original story steeped in tradition and culture." ~ Melissa Reese Etheridge
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"Only Wayne Trotman can take you back to those good old school days, a teenage crush, lure you into a conservationist dream through the wonderful tropical forest of a Caribbean island and then engage you in an intergalactic battle, all in the same chapter.
To top it off, this wonderfully written novel unfolds against the backdrop of some of the Caribbean's favorite folklore characters. It's a well-spun tale with colorful and mouthwatering descriptiveness that has you tasting Aunt Josephine's delicious local dishes. I honestly could not put this book down. And even if you are not a science fiction buff, anyone who appreciates a good story will enjoy this novel. Wayne has done a superb job. A truly enjoyable read." ~ Sean Mungal
Available Editions
| ISBN | 9780956787217 |
| PRICE | $3.49 (USD) |
