Songs of Irie (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781250846808)

"A devastating and nuanced look at two teens' battle for freedom, hope, independence, and love." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Perfect for fans of The Black Kids, Songs of Irie is a sweeping coming-of-age novel from Asha Bromfield about a budding romance struggling to survive amidst the Jamaican civil unrest of the 1970s.

It's 1976 and Jamaica is on fire. The country is on the eve of important elections and the warring political parties have made the divisions between the poor and the wealthy even wider. And Irie and Jilly come from very different backgrounds: Irie is from the heart of Kingston, where fighting in the streets is common. Jilly is from the hills, where mansions nestled within lush gardens remain safe behind gates. But the two bond through a shared love of Reggae music, spending time together at Irie's father's record store, listening to so-called rebel music that opens Jilly's mind to a sound and a way of thinking she's never heard before.

As tensions build in the streets, so do tensions between the two girls. A budding romance between them complicates things further as the push and pull between their two lives becomes impossible to bear. For Irie, fighting--with her words and her voice--is her only option. Blood is shed on the streets in front of her every day. She has no choice. But Jilly can always choose to escape.

Can their bond survive this impossible divide?

Asha Bromfield has written a compelling, emotional and heart-rending story of a friendship during wartime and what it means to fight for your words, your life, and the love of your life.

Author: Asha Ashanti Bromfield
ISBN-10: 1250846803
ISBN-13: 9781250846808
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Language: English
Published: 10/10/2023
Pages: 400
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.98lbs
Size: 8.49h x 5.76w x 1.03d

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 09/15/2023
Booklist 09/15/2023 pg. 59
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 11/01/2023
Publishers Weekly 10/09/2023
Shelf Awareness 11/03/2023