Island in the Sun: Growing up in Jamaica 1948-1954 by Monica Carly
An absorbing account of a young English girl experiencing the joys and facing the challenges of her unique pathway through adolescence, against the backdrop of an island people intent on breaking away from their mother country and taking up an independent role in the world.
Review
‘Monica Carly masterfully weaves personal anecdote with historical context, offering a charming and insightful glimpse into her Jamaican upbringing as a “missionary kid”. Her keen observations and heartfelt reflections make this memoir a captivating and educational journey.’
Ben Drabble, Communications Director, Baptist World Mission
‘An enthralling account which evoked vivid memories of my own childhood in Jamaica. I loved this book and am recommending it to all my friends.’
A secondary school teacher of Jamaican heritage
Monica Carly
Monica Carly was born in Peterborough in 1936 and spent her early years living through the war with all its dramas and privations. At the age of 12 she moved with her family to Kingston, Jamaica, the next 6 years being rich in a wide variety of sights, sounds, tastes and experiences, including surviving a devastating hurricane.
Back in England she gained a B.A. Hons degree at Bristol University and taught English and French at secondary level before raising her family. She has always loved writing and has experimented in many genres such as short stories, children’s stories, and poetry. More recently she has written 2 novels, and at the age of 87 has produced a memoir of her life in Jamaica, which has been very well
