Janjay goes Upriver

By Chantal Victoria

Janjay is back! This time she's headed Upriver—a rural region in Liberia to visit her grandmother. At first, she's not too excited to leave her friends behind during a long school break but then she meets Tania—an American girl also visiting Upriver and the two become fast friends. Along the way, the girls exchange different cultures and build their friendship through a range of new experiences. For Tania, the biggest cultural change is learning about sanitation practices in Liberia. Although the girls live worlds apart, they have much in common. They have a fun time discovering together what Upriver has to offer until drama between their families threatens the newfound friendship. But Janjay is not willing to end her friendship with Tania so easily. The second book of the Janjay series is about friendship, culture, sanitation, honesty, and family ties.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9780995711181

Book preview

Chapter 1

School Vacation

Three o'clock struck and it was time for school dismissal. The students in Janjay’s class started to chatter with excitement and you could barely hear their teacher, Mrs. Neblett, say goodbye and wish them well before going off on school vacation. Janjay and Bendu dashed out of the classroom in glee. They could hardly wait to begin their school break. They stood outside the entrance of the lower levels and waited for Janjay’s little brother Joe-Joe to come out.

You going to Garway’s birthday party, right? Whatchu wearing? asked Bendu.

I don’t know! replied Janjay as she shrugged her shoulders. Well, my Ma going to pick up my clothes from the tailor today. Bendu began to brag.

Bendu and Janjay had been best friends for years. Janjay knew Bendu had a way with words and Bendu knew the exact things to say to get a rouse out of Janjay.

She made me one fiiiiine dress with one big ken-ken. Bendu continued to brag and describe her dress by flaring out her arms to make a shape of an opened umbrella to show how big the poof of her dress would be.

Oh, are you wearing ken-ken style? I think I will ask my Ma to make a straight dress then, said Janjay.

Shortly after, Joe-Joe raced outside the building wearing a backpack twice his size. Even though it was too big for him, he cried for that backpack because it had a picture of a big Spider-Man character on the back.

Janjay held his hand and they all headed home. Bendu continued to discuss the party. Her excitement began to rub off on Janjay, and soon, Janjay started to join in the conversation with anticipation. The first thing Janjay did when she and Joe-Joe arrived home was run straight to the living room where her mother was ironing and folding from a pile of clothes to ask about her outfit for the party.

Hi, Mama!

Hi baby, how was school? asked Mama.

Janjay was too excited to discuss anything about school. She ignored the question and went right to party-talk.

I want to wear a straight dress to here. She stretched her arms downward and placed each index finger right above her knees marking the length of her imaginary dress.

Her mother barely looked up from ironing and said, For what?

Garway’s party, remember? grunted Janjay.

When is it?

Next week, Janjay responded.

You won’t be here.

Ehn? What do you mean? We on vacation, moaned Janjay.