[.ca] Journey to Jo'burg: A South African Story (ISBN 0397321694)

maryam from ababacar Mali:
This is a story about girl and boy who are going to the city of Jo' burg to find the their mother. Because their baby sister is really sick. What i like about this book is that even during hard times the two kids really hold on to each other. What i don't like is the sad ending. I recommamend this book to people who like emotive strories. it's a book that could teach you lessons about life.

Not good:
This was a boring book. The title is deciving. It might be good for 1st and 2nd graders, however. Nadeli and Tiro go to Jo'burg to find there mother, because their little sister Dineo is dying. But that is all that seems to happen, and they really don't spend much time in Jo'burg. Overall, it is a boring book

It is a good book:
Mma is given only a week from her employment, so they hurry back to the village. Mma took Dineo to the hospital; the doctor kept Dineo until her fever was broken. Mma was told to be sure that the baby had plenty of milk, fruits, and vegetables. However, they rarely have money for any of these things. On their journey to Johannesburg, Naleda learned about the older students who were trying to change the unfair practices of apartheid. She is determined to find out about this and become part of the change. They are going on the bus and they did not read the sign it was a white sign they had to walk to the black sign because they was that the white sign. The mom wanted to see her girl because see was sick. The owner was going to a dinner and the owner said that you can see your little girl tomorrow. A woman said that it is not right that they have to but kids in jail. Grace had a passport but her friend didn't. when they went home two boys ran out the house. One of the girls was splashing water and the girl said do not do that because she remenber when she had to buy water. The mom said that the kids need schools and but the black and white tougher. On the banner that Dumi and his friends carried, they had written on the back of a paper they wrote BLACKS ARE NOT DUSTBINS. Dineo the baby is very sick; Naledi was afraid because so many babies have died from this sickness. She and her brother Tiro traveled to Johannesburg to get Mma. Mma was a maid in a white lady's home, and the lady grudgingly allowed Mma to return home to help Dineo. On their trip to Jo'burg, both Naledi and Tiro learn about the things that happen to black people under the white government called apartheid. They discover that they could be shot for picking and eating an orange just because they are hungry. In the train depot they discover that there are trains for blacks and for whites; they must ride the black cars even though they are overcrowded and have no seats. In Soweto, a place in which Mma fears for their safety, they see the police raid, looking for people who do not have their passbooks. The police even try to say that some of the children are older so that they can imprison them. Mma is given only a week from her employment, so they hurry back to the village. Mma took Dineo to the hospital; the doctor kept Dineo until her fever was broken. Mma was told to be sure that the baby had plenty of milk, fruits, and vegetables. However, they rarely have money for any of these things. On their journey to Johannesburg, Naleda learned about the older students who were trying to change the unfair practices of apartheid. She is determined to find out about this and become part of the change. Thirteen-year-old Naledi, her younger brother Tiro and baby sister Dineo live with their grandmother while their mother works as a maid in Johannesburg. When Dineo gets sick, Naledi and Tiro walk to Johannesburg to bring their mother home. On the way, Naledi sees a new world, and learns about the cruelty of Apartheid for the first time. This journey, which saves Dineo's life, causes pride to burn in Naledi, and makes her determined to hold her head up high. They don't understand the song's warning until they arrive in Jo'burg. There they watch, in amazement and fear, while the police storm their train, attacking and arresting people, and the song takes on new meaning. On the crowded city buses, in the sprawling suburbs, and on an unexpected visit to Soweto, Naledi and Tiro begin to see the painful struggle for freedom and dignity going on in the 'City of Gold. ' And slowly they realize that their own journey has just begun. By Jakeba Henry

A good book:
I found this a good book. When Naledi and Tiro's baby sister Dineo, gets sick, they decide to leave their small village and go to Johannesburg to call their mother to help Dineo. They discover so much about their country, about the way their skin colour changes their future and start to ask questions about why life is so unfair. Though readers found it very uninformative, at the time this book was written people were not allowed to write about how unfair the situation in South Africa was. This book said so much that it was banned for many years! It is designed to tell CHILDREN about the situation, so it can't be very gory, its just to give them an idea of the apartheid. I lived in South Africa and have studied the apartheid, this book gives the basic idea. Read it, its good.

A South African Story:
The main character in this book is Naledi. She is caring, brave, and curious. The plot of the story is as follows: Naledi and Tiro went on a journey, because their sister was very ill. On the journey they discovered how blacks were treated by whites. Some examples are: they had to sit at the back of the bus; they had to have passes to travel; they had to work as servants; and they were harrassed by the police. They went to seach for their Mma. Will they find Mma? Will they save their sister Dineo?- You should read this book to find out!- by Sierra Serrano (Age 12), Johnnie Basham (Age 10), and Garrett Kovach (Age 11)