Reviews tagging 'Trafficking'

The Attic Child by Lola Jaye

9 reviews

aunticles's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This is a compelling read and Lola Jaye is a brilliant storyteller. As many other readers have mentioned, the sections about Lowra were less engaging than those narrated by Dikembe. The merging of the dual storylines worked for me and I liked the ending. The main story was fascinating, full of historical detail, the depiction of brutal colonialism and the pride that white people took (and still take) in it was deeply enraging and moving. The dialogue and some of the writing was rather stilted and formal. This worked ok for the historical parts but I think contributed to Lowra's character being less sympathetic and relatable in the modern parts. She and Monty never quite came to life for me as Dikembe did. It's a big book, tackling big themes and started slowly, but by midway it had become a real page-turner and I raced to the finish.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Trafficking, Slavery, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Confinement, Colonisation, and Child abuse

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Rape

emilily's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Trafficking, Grief, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Confinement

isabell's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Slavery, Sexual content, Racism, Death, Trafficking, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Child abuse, Colonisation, and Confinement

musingsbynitika's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Possibly my favourite book of 2022! This is a powerful story with inspiring characters that will stay with me for a long time. Lola Jaye has beautifully written an important historical fiction/ mystery novel about the Black British identity that will break your heart and then lift you back up. A resounding ☆☆☆☆☆

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, Child abuse, Racism, Colonisation, Trafficking, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, Emotional abuse, Genocide, and Mental illness

Minor: Alcoholism, War, Child death, Genocide, Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, and Pedophilia

morethanmylupus's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are compelling. The story made me angry with so many societal institutions, codes of acceptable behavior, and the history of racist colonization in general. Yet, despite that or maybe because of it, the characters making their own way was that much more worth cheering for. One star off because end felt a little too tied up neatly with a bow against the backdrop of the characters' histories and the book themes. Please check the content warnings on this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Trafficking, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Confinement

wherethewildreadsare's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Trafficking, Child abuse, Violence, Slavery, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Death of parent

veronicats's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Classism, Grief, Racial slurs, Violence, War, Colonisation, Confinement, Trafficking, Genocide, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts

tnociti's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Child abuse, Confinement, Trafficking, Racial slurs, Slavery, Racism, and Sexual assault

amandabeaver15's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, and Trafficking

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Rape