Must read books by Jamaican Authors

Updated: 7 days ago

Jamaica is famous for a lot of elements: the athleticism of the runners, its musical talent, its inviting beaches, and of course the delectably delicious dishes. Then again, one aspect rarely mentioned is literary prowess it has. In the last 6 years, Jamaican authors, have contributed to several award-winning creations that are given rising to an amazing literary landscape. Some of the best creations are as follows:

“Bone” by Yrsa Daley-Ward
Published in 2014
Genre: Nonfiction, Autobiography: Memoir, Poetry
“Bone” is certainly one of countless latest poetry anthologies. It raises the voices of first-generation youth as well as the complication of experiences faced by them after immigrating to a new nation. Daley-Ward is a British writer having Nigerian and Jamaican descent, who expressed her emotions and thoughts towards human relationships, womanhood and religion.

“Everything, Everything” by Nicola Yoon
Published: 2015
Genre: Young adult fiction
This is the first attempt of Nicola Yoon into the literary world and in 2017 it was successfully adapted into a movie. The book follows the daily struggle of a family dealing with its daughter diagnosed with SCID, a form of immunodeficiency that forced her to be limited to her home. The novel also portrays how the girl copes with her the feelings of her first love.

“Augustown” by Kei Miller
Published: 2016
Genre: Literary fiction, Historical fiction
This is another tale revolving around the life of everyday Jamaicans. The book revolves around the traditions and folklore of Jamaica along with their ties to the beliefs of the modern times.

“The Sun Is Also a Star” by Nicola Yoon
Published: 2016
Genre: Young adult fiction
The Jamaicans are kept aside while deciding the immigration policies in the talk of immigration. The narrative is equally a love story and the tale showcasing the dealing of a family against the backdrop of deportation threats.

“The Terrible” by Yrsa Daley-Ward
Published: 2018
Genre: Nonfiction, Autobiography: Memoir, Poetry
Often guilt and shame dominate while attempting to voice our challenges and exactly how all of us get around them. The book is actually a raw assortment of verse and prose about the experiences of the author with drugs, sex work, and a plethora of different periods of her existence.
The book tells equally on the parts that the readers can relate to and also thought-provoking, offering a great detailed evaluation on simply how much living inside and outside of borders influences your living and who you are.