Journey to Jo’Burg (HarperCollins Children’s Modern Classics) (Journey to Jo'Burg Series Book 1)

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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. This was a brilliant read and a great introduction to children in KS2 about life in South Africa for black people, the Apartheid and segregation.

It is a simple storyline however so much discussion can be held in the classroom, including the different relationships between the characters and life in South Africa. This is the story of love, commitment and the flowering of the human spirit against the background of South Africa’s apartheid. When they come to another village, they walk quickly so as to not attract the attention of the police because policemen in this area are often corrupt. In the process, Naledi learns about Apartheid from first hand experiences and stories from her friends.Thirteen-year-old Naledi lives with Nono (her grandmother), Tiro (her brother), and Dineo (her baby sister) in a small South African village 300 kilometers from Johannesburg. I think it is a great read for a KS2 class and there are many activities in which it can be used throughout literacy lessons such as looking at characters in depth, retelling a story from a character's point of view, play scripts and report writing.

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 period is South Africa's apartheid years, and while I'm rating four for writing, I'm rating another star for the depiction of tendencies towards popular activism and bringing about change. Finally, although Journey to Jo'burg was penned in 1986 and Apartheid was officially abolished as a South African government policy in the 1990s, the fight for racial equality very much continues in South Africa.

It has prompted some lively discussions as well as provided a strong platform for engaging literacy lessons and cross curricular activities for half a term.