Journey to Jo'Burg by Beverley Naidoo

Journey to Jo'Burg by Beverley Naidoo

The bestselling classic set in South Africa during the apartheid era, in which two siblings must face the dangers of their divided country. This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 7 to 8, especially during homeschooling. It's a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the classroom.

Mma lives and works in Johannesburg, far from the village thirteen-year-old Naledi and her younger brother, Tiro, call home. When their baby sister suddenly becomes very sick, Naledi and Tiro know that they need to bring their mother back in order to save their sister's life. Bravely, secretly, they set off on the long journey to the big city to find Mma.

It isn't until they finally reach Jo'burg that they see up close what life is like for black citizens across South Africa--and begin to really question the unfair and dangerous laws of apartheid.

Beverley Naidoo is a multi-award-winning author of children's and young adult fiction. Beverley was born in South Africa during the apartheid era, and much of her writing reflects her experiences of crossing borders. She has placed her novels in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and the United Kingdom. Voyage to Jo'burg, Beverley's debut novel, was prohibited in South Africa until 1991 and has never been out of print in the United Kingdom since its release in 1985. It is currently part of Harper Collins' Collins Modern Classics list and is widely utilized in schools.