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Title: Journey to Jo'burg: A South African Story
ISBN: 0397321694
Author:
Beverley Naidoo
Publicate Date: 1986-04-18
Publish: 1986-04-18
List Price: $16.89
Average Customer Rating: 3.5
Format: Library Binding
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $16.00
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $6.77
Amazon Merchant Price: $16.89
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| Customer Review: |
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1: it was shipped fast and in really good condition.
i was impressed by how fast i recieved my book. i needed it for a class and it was a last minute order so i appreciate the sellers promptness. the book was also in great condition.
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2: Five Star Book Report
THE GENRE OF THIS BOOK IS BIOGRATHY. THE THEME OF THIS BOOK IS ABOUT A GIRL AND A BOY, NAME NALEDI AND HER BROTHER TIRO. HOWEVER NALEDI AND DIENO WENT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN. WHILE THEY WERE ON THERE WAY, THEY RAN INTO SOME TROBLE. WHY THEY WERE IN TROBLE BECAUSE THEY SAW WHITE MAN AND THEY CAN BE ASSESTED JUST WHEN YOU ARE ALONE. BEFORE THEY FOUND THERE MOM. EVERYONE WHO WAS WHITE CALLED THE BLACKS DUSTBINS. WHEN EVERYONE WHO WAS WHITE THEY KILLED EVERYONE EVEN CHILDREN. ONCE YOU SEE THE PERSON THE NEXT SEC THEY WERE DIED. THE SETTING OF THIS BOOK IS IN SOUTH AFRICAN. THE PROBLEM OF THE STORY IS TRYING TO GET MEDICAN TO THERE LITTLE SITTER DINEO AND TO HELP HER TO FEEL BETTER AND NOT DIE. WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO SEE THERE MOTHER, THEY MEET A WHITE WOMAN AND SHE WAS NICE TO THEM. ALSO SHE SHOWED THEM WHERE THERE MOTHER WAS. IN THE BEGIN OF THE STORY, IN CHAPTER THEER THEY MEET A LITTLE FARMER BOY WHO HELP THEM TO GET SOME ORANGES. THE FARM BOY SAID IF HIS OWNER FOUND OUT HE WAS GIVEING AWAY HIS ORANGES HE WILL KILL HIM AND THE PEOPLE HE GAVED TOO. AFTER THEY HIND THE ORANGES PEALINGS FARM BOY GAVED THEM THE WAY TO FIND THE TOWN. IN CHAPTER EIGHT THEY WERE AT THE TRAIN STAITION. THEY SAW A BLACK MAN AND THE POLICE CAME AND THE BLACK MAN DID NOT HAVE A TICKIT. OUR LIKES AND DISLIKE ARE. OUR LIKES ARE WHEN THE KIDS WENT TO THE TOWN AND FOUND THERE MOM. ON THE OTHER HAND THEY FOUND THE MEDICAN AND WENT BACK HOME. OUR DISLIKED WAS WHEN THE WHITE SOLDIERS WERE KILLING PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THERE WAY EVEN BLACK PEOPLE THE MOST. SOME OF THEM WERE KILLING WOMANS AND CHILDREN. WE CANT TELL YOU THE END OF THE STORY, BUT IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WANT HAPPENS YOU NEED TO READ THE BOOK OF jOUNEY TO jO'BURG.
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3: Short and Powerful
I read this book a few years when I was in 4th grade. At first, I thought it would be boring, because it was so short. However, I was completely surprised. The book moved quickly and taught me about the injustices of Apartheid.
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4: Sweet & short story
This was a quick read for myself and my two children, ages 11 & 13. I enjoyed it more than they did. It gives the reader an inside look at the effects apartheid had on a specific family.
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5: Enjoy
Even though I've never traveled as far as Africa, Beverly Naidoo, the author of Journey to Jo'burg, writes so descriptively that she transports me through the past to Johannesburg, South Africa in the time of 1881-1902. I feel like I am in connected to the characters because Beverly Naidoo reminds me that my African ancestors experienced the same intolerance, injustice, and tragedies in the Caribbean and here in America. In Journey to Jo'burg, you land in a town only 300 kilometers away from the historical Johannesburg and journey with a young girl named Naledi and Tiro, her brother. When Naledi's little sister gets sick she and her brother must journey to find their mother who works many miles from their house.
Naledi was my favorite character. Silent courage flowed through her. Though she stumbled, Naledi brought herself and Tiro, her young brother, through an experience that became their teacher. They had to deal with the enraged police, the mean bus drivers, and the rude Caucasians who pass helpless Africans by with occasional backwards glances of hatred. Naledi spoke fluidly of all this. Naledi remained firm and truthful and described her situation. She refused to pause because of the rough circumstances around her. The Caucasians believed that Africans should receive no rights and agreed with segregation. They also thought that Africans were 1/3 of a person, so the Africans were objects of constant ridicule. In spite of this, Naledi continued to describe her situation.
Along the way, Tiro discovers Mma's neighbor, Grace, who tells the tragic story of the "Horror Day" (my title for the day African students marched against the unfair laws) in 1976. Very few people explain the sorrow Africans experienced from that day on. On that day, students refused to be taught any more rubbish including how to be a servant and topics that did not involve their history. The police, enraged by the outburst, shot hundreds of children. One policeman targeted a girl right next to Grace and killed her. Another imprisoned her brother, Dumi. Finally, her brother was released and he studied in another, safer country. Grace made the story stand out because her words were strong and she seemed more determined than any other person to defeat racial intolerance and the other problems like that in her country.
Naledi and Tiro learn, flee, and search along the trip until they reach Johannesburg. There were no more rides or adventures. They are still excited however when they find Mma. They befriend the courageous and friendly Grace who raises their spirits into a land of eternal hope. She says hopeful things like, "We're pushed all over the place, but it won't be like that forever."
Journey to Johannesburg's character are fluid and express their feelings. Whether excited, fearful, sad, or depressed, the characters pull you through the books pages and shove their feelings into you. You are jumping up and down when they are hyper from excitement. For example, Mma shows her sadness or depression. She sighs and murmurs things like, "I must work. How else can I find the money to send you to school?" In addition, Grace was hopeful. She said once," We're pushed all over the place, but it won't be like that forever." Naledi was determined. She would say," We will get there! We have to go."
For me, I journeyed to Jo'burg through the entrance that is Beverly Naidoo's book. I felt the heart-break and longing of the gold miners and the servants when they yearned to learn more about their own history because a lot of African-American history is not taught in schools in America too.
The most important character is Naledi. She stands out determined and bold and ends up knowledgeable about her people's struggles. She stands between freedom and racial intolerant. She wants freedom and a once in a blue moon chance to discover the truth. Naledi is determined to learn her own heritage, not lessons about nations that don't concern her. Naledi seems to be another side of Beverly Naidoo, standing in her place and telling about experiences that are not taught in school. Naledi wants more out of life than how to be a servant.
The general theme of the story has to do with racial intolerance and the other problems that come with apartheid. However, it is buried deep in the layered "story soil". You have to read the story to understand the background. The author makes this historical fiction piece worth reading. The author spent much time to give a truthful description of Johannesburg and racial intolerance.
I believe that the characters' courage shine through which makes the story bright. Anyone who reads this book should be encouraged to stand up against racial intolerance. The characters pull you into the book. You have to read Journey to Johannesburg for yourself. Enjoy!
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