They Will Not Save Us by Marie Arnold blends Haitian folklore, supernatural horror, and the grief of a twelve-year-old girl who has lost her father. With two starred reviews, this middle grade novel offers both unsettling scares and an emotional story about family, friendship, and finding a way forward after loss.
They Will Not Save Us has been added to my October 2026 – New Release Spotlight list on Amazon.
Author: Marie Arnold
Genre: horror, supernatural, scary stories
Setting: a small village in Haiti
Themes: grief, parental death, friendship, family, Haitian culture, Haitian folklore, Vodou, spirits, zombies, demons, cultural heritage, storytelling
Protagonist: female, age 12, Black, Haitian
Recommended for: Grades 4–7
Starred reviews: Kirkus and Publishers Weekly
Publication date: October 6, 2026
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Lena Etienne lives in a small Haitian village, where she and her best friends, poetry-loving Luke and aspiring journalist Jesula, have a knack for getting into trouble. She is training to become a Mumbo, a Vodou practitioner who communicates with the Loa, spirits who guide and protect her community. But a year after her father’s death, Lena’s anger toward the spirits makes it difficult to embrace that responsibility.
Then something frightening begins happening. Neighbors flash strange smiles, eyes turn milky white, and people and animals suddenly freeze. Lena also hears eerie voices singing gruesome songs.
Searching her father’s unfinished folklore collection, she discovers a story about an ancient bargain between a sailor and a demon. With her friends beside her, Lena must unravel its connection to the present before her village faces a terrifying undead fate.
THEY WILL NOT SAVE US: HAITIAN FOLKLORE, HORROR, AND HEALING
This will be a strong addition to a middle grade horror sections, especially for readers interested in the folklore behind frightening stories.
Invite students to consider how characters respond differently to loss, how stories preserve cultural knowledge, and how friendships help during difficult experiences.
A folklore research activity could explore storytelling traditions, with reliable sources providing context for Haitian Vodou. For sensitive readers, mention the creepy imagery and parental death when recommending it.
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