This is really a intresting storry but more for the older grades 6 and 7.Its really intresting and has a nice storry line.

The book is about 2men who were friends befor had to stop there frienship due to the aparthied area.It was a young white boy who played with black man son who worked at his dads farm.they stop being friends but when they old and married they meet due to there children.The white man fought for justice.

Really nice book.

Well done Mehboob

Done By:Uzair Choonara

Title: Sizwe, Thembile and Matthew
Author: Uzair Choonara
Reviewed by: Mehboob Ali Wajoodeen
Main Theme: Apartheid
Summary: Mr. Thomas is a white racist man who hatred blacks during apartheid just like any other white. Sizwe worked for Thomas and Thomas didn’t like him at all so he organized for his arrestment and for Sizwe’s wife to work as a slave for him. As the year 1994 came by, Sizwe got freed after 8 months in imprisonment and soon rejoiced with his family. He now helps people who suffered the hash struggle of apartheid.

Young author, Uzair Choonara, creates a marvelous setting to the story. He writes this book in such approach that readers would actually encounter a real life image and the moods created between characters are astonishing. The author often notifies the reader that apartheid rules oppressed blacks and other coloured skin groups therefore; a clear massage is set that blacks were frequently treated as slaves.

For me this book would attract more children to read as it unfolds the real story of apartheid and the choice of words are suited for ages 6-11. After reading this book, one would have a superb understanding of how people struggled and fought until freedom prevailed.
The massage is to remind the younger generation about our country’s history so that they don’t become ignorant. A frictional book that’s well prepared but with a factual storyline.

Author: Zainib Ali
Reviewed by: Zaheer Amod
Title: Misunderstood
Misunderstood, a well written book on the hardships of apartheid where one is helped to create a greater understanding of how many people struggled and died for the freedom of this country. The mind set created is that of a girl who struggles in life to accomplish her dreams and learns to stand proud in what she believes in.
The writer’s moral of the story is very clear which is you should never give up in life, always try your best and you sure to succeed. The book shows racial discrimination between whites and non-whites and talks about non-whites fought for the freedom of this country even with all the pain and suffering they went through. It also changes the stereotyping of many who believed that only blacks fought for this countries freedom.
I really enjoyed the book and believe that it is a perfect book for a learner between the ages of 10 and 12

Title: Then and Now
Author: Nabeel Bhyat
Reviewed by: Mohsin Sayed
Then and Now, the author Nabeel Bhyat creates a mind set of a group of friends with a desire for freedom. These young boys who were bred and grew up in a village by their people who were very thirsty for freedom wanted to make South Africa a democratic country where all could live happily and peacefully together as one.
The book had a very interesting story line to it and had a good usage of vocabulary for children between the ages of 6-8.this book helps one to understand some of the pain, hardships and sufferings experienced by non whites during the apartheid era. The dominant characters in the book, Jabu, Themba and Daniel, possessed brilliant inner courage and had not failed in using this excellent quality to their full advantage.
The message of this book shows us never to give up because it’s better to try and fail than fail to try.

Title: Thabo and Freddie – White or black?
Author: Maseehullah Patel
Renewed by: Mohammed Raeez Amod

Thabo and Freddie is a book which was written by Maseehullah Patel. Maseehullah makes the story seem so original. It is a book dealing with the apartheid rule, and the TRC.

The book is about Thabo who’s dream come true, of becoming a president of South Africa and leader of the TRC. Thabo’s story dealing with apartheid is then narrated. The story narrated tells us the injustice Thabo went through and how he was oppressed by a white boy called Freddie. With the TRC Thabo can either choose to have him punished or to forgive him.

This book is a fiction, but the topics and ideas the book highlights or deals with is all facts.

I think the book is quite good, because it shows the reader what was the main concept of apartheid and the TRC. It also encourages readers to find out a more detailed explanation of apartheid and the TRC.

Book Review

Being Different
By Zakiyyah Kolia
Reviewed by Humaira Adam Omar

Zakiyyah has written an excellent story. She explains apartheid properly in a story form. Small children will definitely find this book nice. They won’t get bored and they will understand what was apartheid.

I was not alive during the apartheid era but I felt as if I was alive then when reading the book. She made me realize how lucky I am. I have got everything that I ever wanted but the children those times never had anything. I am so privileged, yet I do not appreciate anything.

It was a story of two small boys named Sizwe and Gary. Sizwe’s mother worked for Gary’s family. Gary always wanted to play with Sizwe but was stopped by his mother. They both were in primary school. Gary’s mother stopped fetching him from school so he started play after school. One day someone saw this and told Gary’s mother. She took him away from Sizwe and they never saw each other after that. After four years apartheid was over and they met again. They were together in the same school and they were best friends.

I like the parts where Zakiyyah showed how the words are pronounced and explains what those words mean.

To know more about Being Different, read the book.

Journey Through Life written by Humaira Adam and reviewed by Tasneem Pochee

We were not part of the apartheid era. For children that don’t know what apartheid is they should try Journey Through Life by Humaira Adam. This book explains apartheid clearly and is factual.

The book explains the life of a young black girl, Lindiwe who lived during the apartheid times. The book details the suffering of what black people went through where there were no jobs, education was low and facilities were not available. Lindiwe experienced these struggles and lost her father in a massacre. Lindiwe is a good character because we can relate to her.

The book is a good book and is written well, it fits the age group. Even though none of the young people experienced racial segregation the setting of the book gives them an idea and feeling of what racial segregation was and they can understand the issues.

The book is set in the past and compared to today’s times the setting is total opposite. When reading the book you feel you are part of the setting and share the sorrows of the non-whites in that time.

An interesting book which every young child should read!