Two kids see their little sister getting very ill but the lady who cares for them doesn't have money for a hospital.

Originally written in 1985, this book was not historical fiction but a description of life as it was in South Africa at the time. This book also helps readers to learn more about history as it is told through the characters' story. I had the privilege of ‘meeting’ Beverley Naidoo in a Zoom lecture recently and was so inspired by her and her story I knew I had to pick this book up immediately. Set in South Africa, Naledi, a thirteen year old girl and her younger brother travel from their small village 300 km to get their mother (who works in Johannesburg) because their baby sister is very ill.After going with a friend to a restaurant in Frankfurt, even though it was raining like crazy, it did not stop me from going to Oxfam, where I did behave: I only got this one book (1 euro). The gripping and empathetic story will draw pupils into engaging imaginatively with what life would have been like for families living during this time of racial segregation. I have often wondered how, as a child, I never really saw or understood how shocking apartheid and racism were. Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The author was a white girl who knew she would have suffered under Nazi Germany, but just did not realise how her black servants had to live.

I would not really recommend the children to read it independently as they will probably would not understand what is going on, without understand the Apartheid. It has been a great inspiration for teaching children to use subordinate clauses and using setting to convey emotions. The opulence of the white “Madam’s” house contrasts starkly with the reality that Naledi and Tiro face – that their baby sister is suffering from starvation, not an incurable disease. They have to stay with their new friend for the night, then travel back with their mother the next day. The physical journey is symbolic of their awakening to the wider realities of apartheid; they face danger and experience prejudice, but also meet kind strangers who help to keep them safe and tell them stories about the uprising of students in Soweto.Although most children have not lived long, if ever, in the country if their family's origin, they may feel a connection to it. She does not like being away from her children but must work in Johannesburg to provide money for food, clothing and an education after their father died. Their father, when he was alive, only visited the family once a year because he worked in the mines. Roger Federer has some connections with the country (wiki: his mother is from there); Nelson Mandela; Charlize Theron; 2010 FIFA World Cup (vuvuzela.

It is a really simple and heartfelt story that contains powerful subject matter for children to explore and discuss in the classroom. All those lesson on writing letters…for jobs as servants…always writing how good they were at cooking, cleaning, washing, gardening…always ending with “Yours obediently. The majority of people in South Africa were black, but they were treated as second-rate citizens who couldn’t aspire to more than being the servants of those in power.The story tells of their awakening to the situation in their country of the appalling treatment of blacks by the rich white people. The wealth was all in the hands of the 'Whites', while the labour was done by the 'Blacks' who worked long hours for little pay and lived under apalling conditions. As well as clear character descriptions and vivid imagery, there are many themes running through the story as it deals with racism and prejudice along with family, love and determination. Our topic for the term was the Apartheid, this book was great as it helped give the children a better understanding, as well as it being about young children in that time, therefore more meaningful for them.

In the process, Naledi learns about Apartheid from first hand experiences and stories from her friends. Michael Rosen's introduction to this recent edition provides an insight into the global political context at the time of its release in 1985. To access your ebook(s) after purchasing, you can download the free Glose app or read instantly on your browser by logging into Glose. On their journey they experience the oppressive and harsh realities of the apartheid including the segregation by colour, the Pass laws that require all black people to carry a passbook at all times and the extreme poverty alongside so much wealth. This book contains photocopiable activities, guided reading notes, speaking and listening activities, writing projects and creative ideas – all from a bestselling, tried-and-trusted series that’s a firm favourite with teachers.

Their little sister is desperately ill and the two children decide to walk to the city to bring their mother home. This book tells the story of two young children who travel 300 km from their small village to Johannesburg, when their baby sister falls seriously ill, to tell their mother who works there as a maid. At the back there is a copy of a letter banning the book's import, which gives greater impact to comprehending the extent of governmental corruption.