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Is 'The Attic Child' Worth Reading? Review

2026-03-09 00:05:52

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Dominic

This was another book that got under my skin and is still there. At first I thought this was just another ‘grim historical’ but it’s actually so much more complex and layered than that. Jaye has done a great job of bringing to light the parallels between the two main characters in two very different time periods. It highlights the way in which systematic violence can affect generations of families and how the emotional scar can be left for years to come. I particularly loved how objects featured throughout the two time periods, mainly a hair comb and a black and white photo, linked the two together in a real and meaningful way.

Yes, the book may get called out for being a bit melodramatic at times, but I felt that the emotional moments were thoroughly earned. The attic scenes were certainly claustrophobic, which was wonderful, and brought home the confined, isolated world that the two main characters lived in. The ending was so bittersweet, in a way that was very fulfilling yet far from neat and tidy. Oh, and it was a great book for my book club, too. We had a two hour discussion and, despite the passing of several days, I still feel strongly about the book and whether Celeste could have forgiven Diké.

2026-03-12

Parker

The Attic Child by Lola Jaye was a recent impulse purchase and completely did not do what I expected. Historical trauma is explored and the human spirit to overcome it shown in incredible detail. I loved how both the past and present are told through two protagonists: early 20th century Celeste and present day Diké. She explores the memory of atrocities of colonialism and how the survivors of such atrocities live on but also shows the quiet struggles of daily life and how memory defines a person. Yes there are very harsh parts but they are dealt with in such a gentle yet powerful manner as if the characters are real and not just fiction.

I was particularly interested in the attic of both the past and present protagonists. It is such a small space but contains so much. Celeste’s story is very painful but I found Diké’s search for her past extremely moving. The writing is simple but it cuts very deeply. I have already pressed this copy of the book on three of my friends. Historical fiction is a big genre but The Attic Child is well worth reading if you are interested in this area. It is hard to read in places but it is also hopeful and has been a real page turner for me.

2026-03-15

Brandon

I said yesterday that 'The Attic Child' had destroyed me, but it had done so in the best possible way. Jaye creates characters but then brings them back from the dead. There is one mind blown moment where you get to see how Celeste’s past has affected her in the present day and how Diké, the detective, piecing together the clues to work out what happened to her. Some of it is hard to read but Jaye’s writing makes you feel like you are there with Celeste and, therefore, she makes you feel her suffering but also her moments of joy. These moments of resistance to her circumstances are quiet but powerful. As someone who needs a book that will make me ugly cry but also leave me hopeful and weirded out, this was the perfect book for me.

2026-03-15

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