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Product Description
"In South Africa we are learning to heal through the telling of stories like these, for it is only through telling that we heal." -Archbishop Desmond Tutu Through powerful personal narratives and photographs, this remarkable book brings together twelve South African teenagers whose distinct voices illuminate their experiences under apartheid and the joyous yet challenging years of freedom since. In their own words, these teens reveal what it was like to grow up in a country bitterly divided by racial separation, violence, and poverty. Eighteen-year-old Bandile Mashinini tells of police breaking down his door night after night because of his family's outspoken resistance to apartheid. Sixteen-year-old Ricardo Thando Tollie speaks of living in a tin shack only a few miles from the elegant houses of white suburbs. And fifteen-year-old Leandra Jansen van Vuuren describes her isolated childhood as a white South African, taught only to fear and mistrust people with skin darker than her own. But here, too, are stories of hope; of a willingness to reach out, to forgive, and to heal. Although they speak with a diverse range of voices, experiences, and attitudes, these young people are united in the belief that the new South Africa will truly be different from the one they have known. Their lives stand testament to the power and resilience of the human spirit and to a country's ability to redefine itself. At last -- paperback versions of all-time favorite children's books from Dorling Kindersley! Every young reader will find something fascinating on this exciting list. Affordable prices and outstanding quality make Dorling Kindersley Paperbacks the perfect choice for helping children read every day.
Amazon.com Review
This simple collection of first person stories and compelling black-and-white photos offers more insight into South Africa than a year's worth of newspapers. Twelve South African teenagers of different races and backgrounds recount their experiences under Apartheid and the slowly dawning awareness that life in their divided nation might one day be different. The authors are Americans who have worked with young people in South Africa, and the refreshingly frank teen subjects offer an uncensored look at prejudice in their own families and communities. These young people are not too embarrassed to admit that they were taught racist values, but neither are they closed to change and forgiveness. "When I was small I was told I had to stay away from black people," says one white South African, who finally connected with kids of other races after spending the weekend at a multiracial camp. "I feel like a pressure has gone off my shoulders." This book will inspire readers--young and old, and from all nations--to lift the weight of prejudice from their own lives. --Maria Dolan
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