Many Rivers to Cross

by Errol Lloyd

When her parents leave Jamaica to seek their fortune in England, Sandra and her brother have to stay behind with Granny. Six years later her parents send for Sandra to come to England, but there still is not enough money for her brother to come. Tells how a family come to terms with separation and the task of putting down new roots in a foreign land.

Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[helwa]

I remembered reading this as a child and loving it. Definitely a great book for early teenage years or 11+. Maybe even younger although it does deal with grief and puberty a little. Also racism of course. I loved the descriptions of where Sandra lived in Jamaica, and of course the crossing on the ship. The culture shock was an interesting exploration and her being so out of place among all the white kids. Probably quite revolutionary in it’s time due to the fact that representation wasn’t a thing back then I assume. Here is the description. When her parents leave Jamaica to seek their fortune in England, Sandra and her brother have to stay behind with Granny. Six years later her parents send for Sandra to come to England, but there still is not enough money for her brother to come. Tells how a family come to terms with separation and the task of putting down new roots in a foreign land. Suggested level: intermediate, junior secondary.

[Swee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in childhood and remembered the title again recently and bought it. This story stuck with me as a child until now and is about a young girl moving from Jamaica to UK in the 1960s to live with her parents and siblings and learning about a new culture after being raised mostly by her grandmother alongside her brother. The letters written to her grandmother that are included too was a good touch.