When their baby sister falls seriously ill, two young South African siblings set out from home to make the 200+ mile journey to Johannesburg to find their mother, who works as a housekeeper for a rich, white family.

This middle grade book has some issues, I think. It seems clear that the point of the novel is to point up some of the major problems with apartheid, but at the same time it seems to downplay those problems too much. The dangers and massive injustices inherent in that system are mentioned and then, weirdly, glossed over quickly, and the ending is a little too pat and trite.

It's possible I'm overreading these elements, because I was aware going into it that the book was written by a white woman from South Africa. Naidoo has a history of standing up for equal rights and speaking out against apartheid, and that's wonderful, of course, but I still don't know how I feel about white people writing stories for PoC. Maybe, at the time, it was an important step toward handing that authority over? So maybe it was a good first step in children's, but I do know for certain that there are now, happily, more and better versions of this kind of story out there by #ownvoices authors. ( )

"It's about three children and one child was sick. So the two children have to go to the city to get their mother. I like it because its interesting and mysterious" - Sasha, Year 4

this was a quick read ( )

I liked this chapter book for many different reasons. I liked how this book included many aspects of the South African Culture. For example, the author used names that girls and boys would have in South Africa, Tiro and Nadeli. The author also uses language from South Africa. For example, the author wrote, “”Sala sentle,” said the boy as he slipped away in the dark. “Tsamaya sentle,” came the reply from the shed.” This book is also written in simple language for a child that is around 9-12 years. The plot of this book also tells the many struggles that men and women faced being a different race. I liked that this chapter book incorporated illustrations throughout this story. This is a good text feature that gives readers a visualization of what is happening in the story. This is a Contemporary Realistic Fiction book and it can be related to student’s lives because many lessons can be taught about multiculturalism. The events are also believable because many people faced these struggles throughout history. This book was very entertaining and would make a good chapter book for students read and learn. The big idea or message of this story is overcoming struggles that many cultures endured because people believed they did not “belong”.

I liked this book because of its plot, and that it pushes readers to broaden their perspectives. The book tells the story of siblings Naledi and Tiro and how they make their way to Johannesburg from their village. When they first realized that their baby sister was ill, Naledi and Tiro went against their grandmother’s rules and decided to travel to Johannesburg by foot, to inform their Mma of their younger sister’s illness. Since they live in a village far away from the city, the siblings are unaware of what is happening during this time of the Apartheid. As they find their mother, who works as a servant for a white family, they begin to understand what is really happening in their country. Black people are not being given the same rights as white people. For example, Black children only go to school to learn how to become servants, instead of learning about math or history. Eventually the children and their Mma are reunited and are able to get their baby sister to the hospital. The trip left Naledi with many thoughts as to what she can do to change the outcome of her life, and her people. For instance, she thought that she had every right to become a doctor and help cure sick people. I feel that this book can push readers to think about tough issues because the Apartheid was a very scary time in South Africa, and life was extremely hard for Black people. Even though the story does not talk about the detailed events of the Apartheid, such as murders and wars, readers can still think about what was happening during this time period, and may want to learn more about it.
I feel that the main idea of this story is to remind readers how important family is. Naledi and Tiro took many risks just to be able to save their baby sister. For example, the children could have easily been taken by police, since they were not supposed to be traveling alone and in certain parts of the city. I think this story can help readers understand the perspectives of Black people living during the Apartheid and what they had to go through just to help feed and care for their family members. ( )