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The Attic Child

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What to expect

Longlisted for the Jhalak Prize 2023.

Two children trapped in the same attic, almost a century apart, bound by a secret.

1907: Twelve-year-old Celestine spends most of his time locked in an attic room of a large house by the sea. Taken from his homeland and treated as an unpaid servant, he dreams of his family in Africa even if, as the years pass, he struggles to remember his mother’s face, and sometimes his real name . . .

Decades later, Lowra, a young orphan girl born into wealth and privilege, will find herself banished to the same attic. Lying under the floorboards of the room is an old porcelain doll, an unusual beaded claw necklace and, most curiously, a sentence etched on the wall behind an old cupboard, written in an unidentifiable language. Artefacts that will offer her a strange kind of comfort, and lead her to believe that she was not the first child to be imprisoned there . . .

Lola Jaye has created a hauntingly powerful, emotionally charged and unique dual-narrative novel about family secrets, love and loss, identity and belonging, seen through the lens of Black British History in The Attic Child.

'An incredibly important book . . . a beautifully crafted, compelling story . . . which will undoubtedly break your heart but also make it sing.' - Mike Gayle

'This is important storytelling about issues of race and privilege . . .that will stay with me for a long time.' - Tracy Chevalier

'Just brilliant.' - Dorothy Koomson

'Powerful and emotional' - Lisa Jewell

Critics Review

Bruising, yet hopeful epic novel. . . Emotional and evocative, The Attic Child is a powerful tale of trauma, identity and survival.
Daily Mail
An incredibly important book giving breath to voices we sadly seldom hear, Lola Jaye’s The Attic Child is a beautifully crafted, compelling story crossing continents and time which will undoubtedly break your heart but also make it sing.
Mike Gayle, author of Dinner for Two
The Attic Child is an impressive feat of imagination, and a great example of how one photograph can inspire a whole world. The interlinked stories of two children moved and upset me in all the right ways. This is important storytelling about issues of race and privilege and abuse, and a book that will stay with me for a long time.
Tracy Chevalier, author of A Single Thread
The Attic Child could be Lola’s best book yet. Her writing is on another level, with characters and a story that grab you from the first page and don't let go until the very end. Just brilliant.
Dorothy Koomson, author of My Other Husband
I was definitely in tears by the end! There is so much to say about this story. Lola Jaye has given us such a creative way of examining privilege, identity, trauma and whiteness in both eras.
Afua Hirsch, author of Brit(ish)
A powerful and emotional journey, that will break your heart and put it back together again.
Lisa Jewell, author of The Family Remains
Heart-breaking and timely - Lola Jaye's first epic historical novel is an emotional roller coaster of a ride
Trisha Ashley, author of The Wedding Dress Repair Shop
An evocative, emotional, beautifully written and captivating novel.
Rowan Coleman, author of The Red Monarch
Strong, memorable characters and an unputdownable story . . . Powerfully affecting
Gill Paul, author of The Manhattan Girls
As educational as it was exceptional. I was nowhere near ready for it to end. It was heartbreakingly sad yet life affirming and full of hope. One of the most important books you’ll read all year.
John Marrs, bestselling author of the Netflix sensation The One
With The Attic Child, Lola Jaye has created something truly special. An epic, historical novel that is as informative and fascinating about a period in history, as it is deeply moving. Above all, it’s a beautiful testament to the strength of the human spirit. I’ve been telling everyone I know about it.
Katy Regan, author of How to Find Your Way Home
An ambitious novel carried out to perfection. This epic tale had me utterly engrossed from first page to last. It's heart-breaking yet powerful and inspiring and so, so wonderful. Dikembe is a hero I will never forget
Tracy Rees, Bestselling author of Amy Snow and The Rose Garden
A powerful and timely book, compelling, heart-breaking yet hopeful and very, very special.
Alex Brown, author of A Postcard from Capri
Hauntingly powerful.
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