Publisher's Synopsis
Josephine's Jamaican Journey-Book Two: Out and About-is a collection of short stories set in Jamaica's immediate post-independence years of the 1960s. In this instalment, our young protagonist bravely steps out from the safety of the Tenement Yard, off Spanish Town Road, where she was raised, and embarks on a journey of learning. She attends school, explores the marketplace, and takes the JOS bus (public transport) to visit relatives and friends in other neighbourhoods. Along the way, she forms new friendships, encounters diverse scenes and characters, and gains new experiences. It's a profound learning experience as she grapples with some tough adult decisions, but not without the support of her friends and loving family.
Josephine tells her story in the language of the time and from her perspective, which is filled with innocence. This innocence allows her to detect nuances that adults often overlook. Her narrative is refreshingly honest, devoid of guile or recrimination, and filled with pure observation and questioning, engaging readers with its unfiltered truth.
This book is not just a delightful read but a laugh-out-loud page-turner that is well worth the purchase. Lean along with Josephine and her school friends in Out and About as they navigate the ups and downs of growing up in Jamaica. "Teacher kyaahn tell yu evriting a school; some tingz yu afi learn fi yu self." [Teachers can't tell you everything at school; some things are self-taught].
