Jamaica Road    by Lisa Smith Order:  USA  Can Knopf, 2025 (2025) Hardcover, e-Book      Reviewed by Barbara Lingens This is the story of Connie and Daphne, teenagers in 1980s London, and what a story it is! Both Black, they live in Little Jamaica, where racism, poverty and domestic issues abound. Daphne, American-born, has been searching for her father as long as she can remember. Her mother has not been helpful, and when she finally meets her father, she figures out why. Connie, an immigrant, has been trying without success to get his mother to leave the abusive man they are living with. In addition to Connie's and Daphne's fraught relationship there are serious racial incidents that somehow never get resolved. Daphne finds herself more and more drawn to action, while Connie feels he has enough going on in his personal life. But Jamaica is the homeland, and when they go back it definitely has a different feeling to it. For example, it's great to look around and see nothing but faces that look like yours. Maybe because of this their lives seem less stressful with maybe fewer racial issues. However, even though they came to help out family, it doesn't take long before they need to go back to London. Author Smith has given us a good look at these two, along with family members and their community. Her ending is a bit cryptic, but she sure keeps our interest throughout, and the lead-up to the end had me on the edge of my chair. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Historical books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews