Taste of Salt

Set in the slums of Haiti in 1991, American author Frances Temple’s debut young-adult novel, Taste of Salt: A Story of Modern Haiti (1992), is told in three parts. The first part follows Djo Leguardien, badly injured in firebombing incident by a street gang known as the Macoute. While confined to the hospital, Djo is visited by Jeremie, a reporter sent to record his life story. The second part of the story revolves around Jeremie’s dreams of escaping a life of poverty and oppression. The third part of the story picks up as Djo and Jeremie grow closer and begin to fall in love with each other. As Djo recounts his life before the attack, he and Jeremie discover the hope, courage, and strength to begin life anew in Haiti. Taste of Salt has been called “gripping…vivid storytelling” by ALA Booklist, a “lyrical…excellent first effort” by School Library Journal, and “a powerful fictional portrait” by Publishers Weekly. It won the 1993 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award. The title refers to a legend of the zombies who robotically slave for their masters until they have a taste of salt.

Narrated in alternating first-person perspectives by protagonists Djo and Jeremie, the story begins in the slums of Haiti in 1991. The political climate in Haiti is unstable, as ruthless dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier rules the island-nation with an iron fist. Using fear to control the masses, Duvalier dispatches armed thugs nicknamed “Tonton Macoute” to terrorize anyone who opposes his rule and supports rising politician Jean-Bertrand Aristide (or “Titid” as the locals call him). As a result, life in Haiti is oppressive and dangerous. Slums are commonplace, separating rich white people from the poor, brown-skinned masses. School fees prevent mass education, hunger is rampant, and street violence is on the rise. Seventeen-year-old Djo Leguardien has recently been injured in a firebombing executed by the Macoute. Stuck in a hospital bed, Djo is visited by Jeremie, a young woman who has been sent by Aristide to speak with Djo, to give him a newfound reason to live, and to capture his story on tape. Jeremie, who comes from a well-to-do family, was educated in a convent. She longs to escape the dire socioeconomic conditions in Haiti. As she listens to Djo’s story, she begins to fall in love with him.

As Djo recounts his life to Jeremie, the story jumps back and forth in time. The book alternates between the present meeting in the hospital and the childhoods of both Djo and Jeremie. As children, Djo and his cousin Lally join “Titid’s Boys,” political supporters of Aristide based in Port-au-Prince. Djo finds a sense of purpose as Titid welcomes him into the shelter, supporting him, and giving him a sense of purpose. Not long after, the Macoute kills Lally, and sugarcane workers from the Dominican Republic kidnap Djo, forcing him into slave labor. Djo befriends Julio, a guard who tells Djo of how to escape. After three hard years of strength, will, and determination, Djo escapes his captors in the Dominican Republic, returning to Haiti. When he returns, Djo is pleasantly surprised to learn that Aristide has transformed from beloved priest to presidential candidate of Haiti. Elated masses race to vote at the poles; the Macoute massacres twenty people. Djo and “Titid’s Boys” continue to advocate for Aristide’s way of life. In 1986, charged with committing crimes against humanity, Duvalier is removed from Haiti. A new constitution is formed, outlawing the Macoute from working in the government.



Djo suffers a seizure and slips into a coma. The story shifts to Jeremie’s perspective. Regretting not having shared more about herself with Djo, Jeremie tells him her story while he remains in a coma. Jeremie hails from a relatively upscale family that sent her to study with nuns as a child. She has always wanted to use her education to escape her impoverished life in Haiti and to live somewhere else. As she hears Djo’s story and begins to fall in love with him, Jeremie realizes that she cannot leave Haiti in good faith. She ultimately decides to stay in Haiti to help Djo recover. Her friend, Lilane, believes Jeremie’s mother will disapprove of Djo, but Jeremie doesn’t care. Her concern is for Djo’s safety and well-being. She is also upset about the massacre of Titid’s voters. Jeremie finds inspiration in public sermons given by Titid, which are often centered on rising water levels, flooding, and hurricanes. One of Jeremie’s colleagues, Sister Claire, offers Jeremie a scholarship. Nevertheless, in the end, Jeremie decides to stay in Haiti by Djo’s side, sacrificing her education for love.

Eventually awakening from his coma, Djo continues telling Jeremie is life story. He details his escape from the Dominican Republic, as well as many life-shaping events that took place before being placed in the hospital. However, when he comes to, Djo cannot remember Jeremie’s story. Jeremie gives him her notebook, declaring that he has a lot of reading to do. Although they have only known each other for eight days, Jeremie decides to stay in Haiti with Djo to spread Titid’s political message. Djo and Jeremie promise each other to fight for hope and a better future in Haiti. In 1991, Aristide is elected the first president of Haiti and the people dance in the streets.

In addition to Taste of Salt, Temple wrote five novels over the course of her literary career. They include Grab Hands and Run, The Ramsay Scallop, Tonight, by Sea, The Beduin’s Gazelle, and Tiger Soup, An Anansi Story from Jamaica. Temple died of a heart attack in 1995 at age forty-nine.