Status
Available
Series
Publication
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (1986), Edition: 1st American ed, Hardcover, 80 pages
Description
Separated from their mother by the harsh social and economic conditions prevalent among blacks in South Africa, thirteen-year-old Naledi and her younger brother make a journey of over 300 kilometers to find her in Johannesburg.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Hamburgerclan
This one is an incomplete book! It's one of my daughter's school books, written and set in the mid-1980s, when apartheid still infected the country of South Africa. It concerns the story of two children, who run away from their village to the city of Johannesburg in order to find their mother. It's
--J.
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a quick travelogue of some of the abuses black people were suffering at that time. Why I call it incomplete is that the ending is less than happy. There's no freedom won for the family or the nation, only the hope that the children might join in the fight against the unjust system and that one day that dream may be realized. Well, now it's 20 years later and we know that things are better. I would love to read a sequel to see what happened to the family. Anyway, while this book is dated, the evil of discrimination is not. This journey is still worth checking out.--J.
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LibraryThing member slriley
This short chapter was a pretty easy read and would be a great beginning chapter book for readers. Two children set out on their own to travel to Jo'Burg, where their mother works, to bring her home to their sick younger sister. They get into some adventures on the way and eventually return to
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their village. The characters were easy to relate to and the bond they shared was that of all siblings. The book had great references for some of the language translations and maps of the area discussed in the story. There were some black and white illustrations that captured certain major scenes of the story. Show Less
LibraryThing member aezeek
Journey to Jo'burg was a fairly easy read and would be an appropriate chapter book for beginning readers. Two young siblings (Naledi and Tiro) venture out on a long, painful journey to Jo'burg to find their mother. They need to find her so that she can help care for their sick baby sister. They
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encounter other helpful African-Americans along their journey, but are cautioned about the (unfair) rules that are strictly enforced in the city. This award winning book teaches about segregation, the struggle for freedom, and how the characters fought for their dignity in Johannesburg, South Africa. Show Less
LibraryThing member cejerry97
This is a story about two children named Nadeli and Tiro who travel to Johannesburg to find their mother, in order to help their baby sister who is very sick. Along the way, Nadeli and Tiro come across many situations and many people who teach them about their past as African Americans, and the
Genre: Historical Fiction
Type: Chapter book - intermediate
Pictures: Pencil, Charcoal
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struggles that they had to go through. This would be a great story to use when referring to social studies or african american history. This book could also be read aloud to an upper grade-level class.Genre: Historical Fiction
Type: Chapter book - intermediate
Pictures: Pencil, Charcoal
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LibraryThing member katiejanelewis
Most of the civil rights problems and civil wars students learn about seem like ancient history. Journey to Jo'burg takes place in the 1970s, which was just 30 years ago. This tale of struggle, hardship, and determination brings major political issues into a current-day light.
LibraryThing member tas026
This story was about a little girl Naledi who was separated from their mother by the harsh social and economic conditions prevalent among blacks in South Africa, thirteen-year-old Naledi and her younger brother make a journey of over 300 kilometers to find her in Johannesburg just to visit their
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mother who they were separated from. Show Less
LibraryThing member vxz001
Journey to J'Burg is the story of two siblings, Naledi and Tiro, who are forced to go to Johannesburg to look for their mother, who lives and work in that city, when their baby brother gets sick. The trip to the city makes them aware of all of the injustices and the struggle for freedom their race
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(blacks) faced. Show Less
LibraryThing member DubaiReader
A children's book about Apartheit.
Originally written in 1985, this book was not historical fiction but a description of life as it was in South Africa at the time. The author wanted to teach young children about the unacceptable policy of Apartheit that separated Africans from Caucasians purely by
The wealth was all in the hands of the 'Whites', while the labour was done by the 'Blacks' who worked long hours for little pay and lived under apalling conditions.
Naledi and her brother Tiro are just 13 and 9 when their baby sister Dineo falls seriously sick with fever and malnutrition. Their mother is working hundreds of miles away in Johannesbug but this does not deter these brave young children from deciding to make the journey to bring their mother back to save Dineo.
On the way they experience many of the realities of Apartheit that they had been shielded from in their small isolated village - the segregation by colour, the Pass Card that must be carried at all times and the poverty in the face of so much wealth. This is where the strength of this book lies; as a learning tool for today's children.
Probably best suited for 9 to 10 yr olds it provides plenty of opportunity for learning about this era in history and perhaps ensuring that such inhumanities are not repeated.
Originally written in 1985, this book was not historical fiction but a description of life as it was in South Africa at the time. The author wanted to teach young children about the unacceptable policy of Apartheit that separated Africans from Caucasians purely by
Show More
colour.The wealth was all in the hands of the 'Whites', while the labour was done by the 'Blacks' who worked long hours for little pay and lived under apalling conditions.
Naledi and her brother Tiro are just 13 and 9 when their baby sister Dineo falls seriously sick with fever and malnutrition. Their mother is working hundreds of miles away in Johannesbug but this does not deter these brave young children from deciding to make the journey to bring their mother back to save Dineo.
On the way they experience many of the realities of Apartheit that they had been shielded from in their small isolated village - the segregation by colour, the Pass Card that must be carried at all times and the poverty in the face of so much wealth. This is where the strength of this book lies; as a learning tool for today's children.
Probably best suited for 9 to 10 yr olds it provides plenty of opportunity for learning about this era in history and perhaps ensuring that such inhumanities are not repeated.
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LibraryThing member wdjeffus
This is a story about children who travel to Jo'burg to find their mother. The encounter many different people along the way. The must keep hidden from people such as the farm owner and the police and not get caught.
LibraryThing member zhelg
The Journey to Jo'burg is not that good of a book. The level of literature is very low. If you are a high level reader than this is not the book for you. The events happen to quickly. That is why I do not like. It is a book for a lower level reader. If you do not like a short a simple plot with
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quick event. The Frytags pyramid is the structure of a book. The inticing moment gets a story started. the inticing moment in this book is very short and is not very good. the Rising action is the second part to a book. Show Less
LibraryThing member debnance
Naledi and Tiro know the only one who can save their sick baby sister is their mother, and she is off working in far away Johannesburg. So the two head off to find their mother. On the way they face many trials and make new friends. A 1001 CBYMRBYGU.
LibraryThing member ekrzys1
SUMMARY: Naledi, a thirteen year old girl, is the main character. She lives in South Africa. She goes on a journey to Johannesburg to get their mother, since her youngest sister is very sick. On their journey, they learn that police can be corrupt, that there are white-only buses, and that students
Review: I thought this book was a good read. It takes the reader on an emotional journey with Naledi and her brother. The author did a great job at making the reader have a visual along with the text. For example, "People were screaming, bleeding, falling... A little girl, about eight years old, standing near Grace raised her fist, and next thing she was lying dead." The central message was focusing on the struggle and fear and the lives of African village people .
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are taught in school to be servants. In the end, they are able to take Dineo, the little sister to a hospital to be cared for. Naledi realizes that she wants to be more than a servant, she wants to be a doctor! Review: I thought this book was a good read. It takes the reader on an emotional journey with Naledi and her brother. The author did a great job at making the reader have a visual along with the text. For example, "People were screaming, bleeding, falling... A little girl, about eight years old, standing near Grace raised her fist, and next thing she was lying dead." The central message was focusing on the struggle and fear and the lives of African village people .
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LibraryThing member ecahan1
I liked this book because of its plot, and that it pushes readers to broaden their perspectives. The book tells the story of siblings Naledi and Tiro and how they make their way to Johannesburg from their village. When they first realized that their baby sister was ill, Naledi and Tiro went against
I feel that the main idea of this story is to remind readers how important family is. Naledi and Tiro took many risks just to be able to save their baby sister. For example, the children could have easily been taken by police, since they were not supposed to be traveling alone and in certain parts of the city. I think this story can help readers understand the perspectives of Black people living during the Apartheid and what they had to go through just to help feed and care for their family members.
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their grandmother’s rules and decided to travel to Johannesburg by foot, to inform their Mma of their younger sister’s illness. Since they live in a village far away from the city, the siblings are unaware of what is happening during this time of the Apartheid. As they find their mother, who works as a servant for a white family, they begin to understand what is really happening in their country. Black people are not being given the same rights as white people. For example, Black children only go to school to learn how to become servants, instead of learning about math or history. Eventually the children and their Mma are reunited and are able to get their baby sister to the hospital. The trip left Naledi with many thoughts as to what she can do to change the outcome of her life, and her people. For instance, she thought that she had every right to become a doctor and help cure sick people. I feel that this book can push readers to think about tough issues because the Apartheid was a very scary time in South Africa, and life was extremely hard for Black people. Even though the story does not talk about the detailed events of the Apartheid, such as murders and wars, readers can still think about what was happening during this time period, and may want to learn more about it. I feel that the main idea of this story is to remind readers how important family is. Naledi and Tiro took many risks just to be able to save their baby sister. For example, the children could have easily been taken by police, since they were not supposed to be traveling alone and in certain parts of the city. I think this story can help readers understand the perspectives of Black people living during the Apartheid and what they had to go through just to help feed and care for their family members.
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LibraryThing member KimSalyers
this was a quick read
LibraryThing member KimSalyers
this was a quick read
LibraryThing member electrascaife
When their baby sister falls seriously ill, two young South African siblings set out from home to make the 200+ mile journey to Johannesburg to find their mother, who works as a housekeeper for a rich, white family.
This middle grade book has some issues, I think. It seems clear that the point of
It's possible I'm overreading these elements, because I was aware going into it that the book was written by a white woman from South Africa. Naidoo has a history of standing up for equal rights and speaking out against apartheid, and that's wonderful, of course, but I still don't know how I feel about white people writing stories for PoC. Maybe, at the time, it was an important step toward handing that authority over? So maybe it was a good first step in children's, but I do know for certain that there are now, happily, more and better versions of this kind of story out there by #ownvoices authors.
This middle grade book has some issues, I think. It seems clear that the point of
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the novel is to point up some of the major problems with apartheid, but at the same time it seems to downplay those problems too much. The dangers and massive injustices inherent in that system are mentioned and then, weirdly, glossed over quickly, and the ending is a little too pat and trite. It's possible I'm overreading these elements, because I was aware going into it that the book was written by a white woman from South Africa. Naidoo has a history of standing up for equal rights and speaking out against apartheid, and that's wonderful, of course, but I still don't know how I feel about white people writing stories for PoC. Maybe, at the time, it was an important step toward handing that authority over? So maybe it was a good first step in children's, but I do know for certain that there are now, happily, more and better versions of this kind of story out there by #ownvoices authors.
Show Less
Awards
Massachusetts Children's Book Award (Nominee — 1995)
Josette Frank Award (Winner — 1986)
The Other Award (1985)
CCBC Choices (1986)
Language
Original publication date
1985
Physical description
80 p.; 6.5 x 0.75 inches
ISBN
0397321686 / 9780397321681