Black text on white paper is suddenly awash with descriptive colors and details that are perfectly describe in Nalo's text. The reader is transported to a magical world to walk the streets and experience Carnival with young Tan-Tan. The Caribbean inspired land of Toussaint, of the Nation Worlds, experiences the jubilation of Carnival. Music, dance and pageantry exist around every corner. Tan-Tan is a little girl jerked between the squabblings of her parents.
Carnival hopes to be a place of escape and intrigue.
Tan-Tan and her mummy creep along the bustling streets to come upon a charismatic street talker. She becomes intrigued. As the story unfolds, Tan-Tan is transported into the brutal world of New Half Way Tree. Creatures exist from reality and folklore to test Tan-Tan. The child must search deep to transform herself into the real Robber Queen.