In the early 1900s, 12-year-old Celestine is taken from his homeland in Congo to London by a famed "explorer". A trip Celestine thought would end in a month turns out to be a nightmare that would trap him for decades. In 1974,after 25-year-old Lowra inherits her parent's estate, she finds documents and personal belongings in the attic, along with messages carved on the wall. This surprising discovery will lead her to expose the secrets in this tiny space and change her life forever.

Connecting two characters that span almost a century, ATTIC CHILD is a powerful story that explores the meaning of family and belonging with poignant examinations of colonialism and child abuse. On the themes of being forced to lose one's identity, Celestine's struggles reflect that of Robin's from BABEL, both of whom lost their names and are expected to show gratitude for the "opportunity" provided by white colonizers.

Jaye brilliantly connects the two characters, Celestine and Lowra, but I wish the book blurb didn't give as much away. The first twist that links Celestine and Lowra happens at roughly the 30% mark and would have been a great one for the readers to experience organically. The last 50 pages also seem too neatly tied into a bow that takes away the emotional intensity built up throughout the book. Additionally, this portion reads slightly out-of-place; I don't know the best way to describe it, but for those familiar with academic publishing, it has an addressing-reviewers’-comments feel to it.

Overall, ATTIC CHILD is a phenomenal book with a harrowing yet powerful story. I can't wait to read what Jaye comes up with next!