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Journey to Jo’Burg (HarperCollins Children’s Modern Classics)

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Journey to Jo’Burg (HarperCollins Children’s Modern Classics) by Beverley Naidoo

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By Beverley Naidoo

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23 reviews

This is the story of love, commitment and the flowering of the human spirit against the background of South Africa’s apartheid.

Frightened that their baby sister Dineo will die, thirteen-year-old Naledi and her younger brother Tiro run away from their grandmother to Johannesburg to find their mother, who works there as a maid. Their journey illustrates at every turn the grim realities of apartheid – the pass laws, bantustans, racism, the breakdown of family life. 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. This edition of Beverley Naidoo’s classic story includes a special “Why You’ll Love This Book” introduction by Michael Rosen, the Children’s Laureate.

Reviews

24 Sep 2024

It's very nice there's a little baby sis who's still ck and Naledi and her bro Tiro go to Johannesburg which is 250 kilometers away which is quite a long walk in South Africa

24 Aug 2024

Very interesting book and my favourite character was Naledi. I learned more about Africa from the story. Good book for everyone.

20 Jul 2024

I thought in the middle nere the end it was a bit violent because when the police came everyone ran in different directions and it was overwhelming.

24 Jun 2024

I love the way that every time the story seems to be solving the problem, another problem comes along for the children. It keeps you in suspense.

26 Sep 2023

A simple introduction to Apartheid. Naledi lives in a village with her grandparents while her mother lives and works for a white lady in Johannesburg. Naledi has been slightly sheltered from Apartheid but when her baby sister gets sick, she and her brother make a risky journey to the city to get their mother to come home. While there, they start noticing the segregation and this makes them start to question things. Aimed at 9+

22 Aug 2023

South African

18 Aug 2023

It’s very good book about two children to save their baby sister who is sick. I really enjoyed reading it.

15 Aug 2023

an interesting touching book....sometimes hard to understand though...

20 Jul 2023

this book was very intresting and emotional and heart touuching .

10 Jul 2023

good

01 Jan 2023

I would recommed it to someone who likes sad stories. It is is fiction . My favouite part is when Mma took Dineo to the hospital to get medicine. My favourite person is Grace because she helped Naledi and Tiro.

30 Jul 2022

An interesting look into that time period. It was a lot shorter than I expected

29 Jul 2022

I loved the direct voice, asking questions if the reader, the beautiful telling of a sad story.

21 Dec 2021

This book was about refugees on a journey to Jo’burg. It has old language but tells you what it means. Really great book! Would recommend it to people who like old and adventurous stories.

28 Jul 2021

I adored this book it was filled of emotion even if some of them were not happy ones. I grew to love the characters and everything about them. The actual journey was brilliant and thoughtful. I would definitely recommend this to any mature thoughtful and friendly people who want to help others.

15 Dec 2020

My favourite was Naledi because she had the determination to travel 300km to Johannesburg to get mma so she could help Dineo survive. I like the book although i am sad back then they had discrimination but Naledi still was able to get mma by the help of Grace. I would recommend it to other people so they can be inspired like me never give up if you are struggling.

26 Aug 2020

I enjoyed it!

18 Aug 2020

this really interested me because it actually tells a real story that tells me a lot about the behaviour of white people to black people before.

14 Aug 2020

I wanted to learn more about the apartheid in South Africa and this story was great. I think Naledi and Tiro were so brave and it was terrible how black people were treated. The book was banned in South Africa for many years.

01 Aug 2020

It was very good, although a little short. My favourite character was Grace. She was very kind. I liked how Naledi will do anything to save her baby sister.

28 Jul 2020

A real glimpse into a very different life.

11 Jul 2020

Recommended Highly. Excelent book

07 Sep 2019

I found it really good to read but, it was quite sad.
It was also a shortish story for people over ten.

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