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lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I received this as a gift from someone.
"The Attic Child" follows two characters born decades apart but bound together by their time spent locked away in the same attic. In the early 1900's, Celestine is taken from his home village in Africa to live in England with an explorer named Sir Richard Babbington. Celestine wants nothing more than to go back home, and he tries desperately to cling to his African identity, even though he is encouraged to embrace English ways. Lowra was a young orphan when she was first locked away in the attic. But what kept her hopeful was a doll and a necklace she found underneath the floorboards. Now, as an adult, she has rightfully inherited her family home, and she is determined to finally figure out where that doll and necklace came from.
I absolutely devoured this story, and once I got into it, I did not want to put it down. Both Celestine's and Lowra's stories were captivating, devastating, and inspiring on their own, but seeing their stories weave together to create the masterpiece that is "The Attic Child" was beautiful beyond words.
Celestine faced unbelievable odds at every turn in his life and he faced brutal racial injustice that was infuriating to read about. However, despite all of his hurdles and all of the adversity he always found himself in, he remained positive, hopeful, and determined to build a life for himself. He was such a strong character, and he embodied resilience. What I think is most interesting, and most important about his character, is that history would have never remembered him and the great life he led. He changed so many lives, but because he was black, no one knew his story except for his own family. It is through Lowra's search for the owner of the necklace that it is revealed how remarkable Celestine is. I think this inspires some interesting discourse about how easy it is to forget the people who paved the path before us. People's lives matter, and it is through listening to their stories that we remember them.
At the end of the story there was a note from the author where she talked about her inspiration for writing this story. She shared that history often remembers the hunter, but never the lion, and she wanted to write a story about the lion. I think this is so profound, and so crucial to remember when we study history. History is so often told through the eyes of the victor, but there are always more sides to the story. People without a voice, or who are oppressed do not get remembered in the same way, but their stories are just as valuable and shed important light on their time in history.
Lola Jaye is an immensely talented writer. She was able to weave together two stories seamlessly to create a beautiful tapestry of a bigger picture. Her writing is sharp, intelligent, and does not shy away from sharing the harsh truths.
I cannot recommend this book enough, and I look forward to picking up ore from Lola Jaye in the future.
Graphic: War, Racism, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Bullying, Child abuse, Grief, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Racial slurs, Slavery, Violence, Confinement, Hate crime, Kidnapping, and Death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
rebeccaelizabeth's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Colonisation, War, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Emotional abuse
musingsbynitika's review against another edition
- 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
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
poeticsinglemama's review against another edition
- 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? No
5.0
There were times I didn't want to keep reading it because I didn't want to be sad, but I also needed to keep reading it because I needed to know how their stories ended.
It will take me a moment to digest this book because I just finished it, but I haven't had a book make me feel this many feelings in a long time!
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Racism and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual assault and War
veronicats's review against another edition
- 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
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
spiraljester's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Racism, Death of parent, Death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and War