Joy has spent her life with her grandmother in Jamaica, steeped in Jamaican culture, sunshine and traditions. Until the day her dream comes true: Joy's mother, who moved to England when Joy was a baby, writes to say that she's ready for her daughter to come and join her.

Joy can hardly contain her excitement. Packing, saying goodbye to all she has loved and the journey all add to it. But London in December is a shock. It's cold and dark and unfriendly. Even so, it's nothing to the shock that awaits when she goes to live with her mother...