My Own Dear People
₦16,000.00
My Own Dear People by Dwight Thompson is a powerful Jamaican coming of age novel about guilt, masculinity and the cost of remaining silent.
After witnessing a brutal assault at his elite boys’ school, Nyjah Messado fails to intervene. Years later, the memory follows him back to Montego Bay, where he must confront his complicity and decide whether justice and forgiveness are still possible.
Taut, lyrical and emotionally fearless, this Caribbean novel explores toxic masculinity, colonial legacies, gang violence and the dangers faced by women and LGBTQ communities.
‘Immediate and immersive … Thompson explores the trajectory of a conflicted, flawed young man who slowly seeks to make amends and become a better person’ — TLS
‘An important, beautifully written novel about a young man’s struggle to come to terms with the actions (and inactions) of his own past. This is one of the best books I have read in a long, long time.’ — Jerry Stahl, author of Nein, Nein, Nein!
My Own Dear People by Dwight Thompson
What does it cost to remain silent when another person is being harmed?
My Own Dear People follows Nyjah Messado, a young Jamaican man carrying the weight of one devastating memory. As a teenager at an elite private boys’ school, Nyjah watches as trainee teacher Maude Dallmeyer is dragged away by his schoolmates. Bound by the school’s masculine code, he says nothing and does nothing.
His silence does not protect him from what happened. Instead, it follows him through university and into adulthood, shaping the man he becomes.
A powerful story of guilt and complicity
When Nyjah returns to Montego Bay, he finds a city of striking contradictions. Beyond the polished image presented to tourists lies a community shaped by inequality, street gangs, religion and the lasting influence of colonial rule.
As he moves through this dangerous and divided city, Nyjah must confront more than his memories. He must examine his participation in a culture that protects male violence while placing women and LGBTQ people at risk.
Dwight Thompson’s novel asks difficult but urgent questions. What responsibility do witnesses have? Can silence become a form of complicity? And can someone make amends after failing to act when it mattered most?
A Jamaican coming of age novel with lasting impact
My Own Dear People moves between Nyjah’s younger and older selves, revealing how shame, fear and social expectations affect his choices. His journey towards justice is neither easy nor predictable.
Through lyrical prose and poetic Jamaican patois, Dwight Thompson creates a vivid portrait of Montego Bay. The city is not simply the setting for the story. Its schools, streets, churches, politics and criminal networks all influence Nyjah’s understanding of manhood and morality.
The result is a fierce Caribbean coming of age novel about a young man searching for the courage to challenge both his culture and himself.
Masculinity, prejudice and the possibility of change
Dwight Thompson’s novel examines the ways harmful ideas about masculinity are learned, protected and passed from one generation to another. It explores rape culture and homophobia without losing sight of the individuals affected by them.
At its heart, this is also a story about self-deception. Nyjah wants to believe that he was powerless, but his conscience continues to challenge that version of the past. Before he can seek forgiveness, he must face the truth about his own inaction.
Readers can learn more about the real experiences that inspired the story in Cassava Republic’s Behind the Story with Dwight Thompson.
Why you should read My Own Dear People
Choose this compelling novel if you enjoy:
- Caribbean and Jamaican literary fiction
- Complex coming of age stories
- Novels about toxic masculinity and male friendship
- Fiction examining guilt, complicity and justice
- Books exploring colonial legacies and social inequality
- LGBTQ themes in contemporary Caribbean literature
- Morally complicated characters seeking redemption
- Lyrical writing enriched by Jamaican patois
Readers interested in experiencing Thompson’s prose before buying can also read an exclusive extract published by Wasafiri.
About Dwight Thompson
Dwight Thompson is the award winning Jamaican author of Death Register. His short fiction has appeared in PREE and The Caribbean Writer.
He won the Charlotte and Isidor Paiewonsky Prize and was shortlisted for the Small Axe Literary Competition. His work was also longlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize in 2021 and 2022.
Born and raised in Jamaica, Thompson now works at an international school in Hiroshima, Japan. My Own Dear People is his second novel.
Order your copy today and discover an unforgettable story about silence, responsibility and one man’s difficult journey towards justice.
| Weight | 0.5 kg |
|---|---|
| ISBN | 978-1-913175-88-7 |
| Author | Dwight Thompson |
| Format | Paperback |
| Publication Date | 19th May 2026 |
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