Genevieve
I really love historical fiction, and this book is a perfect example of why. The Attic Child is beautifully written, deeply moving, and unafraid to confront dark truths. Lola Jaye put together a story that is heartbreaking, powerful, and unforgettable.
We begin with Dikembe, a young boy from the Congo in the early 1900s who is sold to Englishmen and taken to England. We’re also introduced to Lowra in 1974. Though separated by decades, their lives are connected by a haunting secret. The dual POV allows us to experience both of their journeys in a way that feels intimate and devastating.
This book had me on the verge of tears more than once. The characters felt so real, and the cruelty they lived through was difficult to read at times, yet handled with such care, respect, and love. Knowing the story was partially inspired by a real photograph of a 12-year-old boy found in a museum made it even more heartbreaking.
I was completely pulled in Dikembe’s story and honestly wanted more. More about his mother, his siblings, and the life taken from him. His journey was tragic but also deeply inspiring, and it’s everything I look for in historical fiction.
On the other side, Lowra’s story carries its own pain and trauma. Watching both storylines come together was done beautifully. The ending was perfectly executed, emotional, meaningful, and incredibly impactful.
This is a story that will stay with me for a long time. I know it’s early, but this may already be one of my top reads of the year. Highly recommend.
I really love historical fiction, and this book is a perfect example of why. The Attic Child is beautifully written, deeply moving, and unafraid to confront dark truths. Lola Jaye put together a story that is heartbreaking, powerful, and unforgettable.
We begin with Dikembe, a young boy from the Congo in the early 1900s who is sold to Englishmen and taken to England. We’re also introduced to Lowra in 1974. Though separated by decades, their lives are connected by a haunting secret. The dual POV allows us to experience both of their journeys in a way that feels intimate and devastating.
This book had me on the verge of tears more than once. The characters felt so real, and the cruelty they lived through was difficult to read at times, yet handled with such care, respect, and love. Knowing the story was partially inspired by a real photograph of a 12-year-old boy found in a museum made it even more heartbreaking.
I was completely pulled in Dikembe’s story and honestly wanted more. More about his mother, his siblings, and the life taken from him. His journey was tragic but also deeply inspiring, and it’s everything I look for in historical fiction.
On the other side, Lowra’s story carries its own pain and trauma. Watching both storylines come together was done beautifully. The ending was perfectly executed, emotional, meaningful, and incredibly impactful.
This is a story that will stay with me for a long time. I know it’s early, but this may already be one of my top reads of the year. Highly recommend.