The World Beneath - Softcover

Janice Warman

3.55

119 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1406337161 ISBN 13: 9781406337167

Publisher: Walker Books Ltd, 2013

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One boy's struggle for freedom during South Africa's anti-apartheid movement. 1970s South Africa. Eleven-year-old Joshua lives with his mother, who works as a maid for the Malherbes in a white middle-class area in Cape Town. We see this enclosed world through Joshua's eyes as we share his longing for his family and his past life in the rural Ciskei. When a boy enters the garden one night, Joshua offers him refuge. The stranger turns out to be a freedom fighter on the run. As riots sweep the country Joshua becomes more and more aware of the political situation around him and is determined to help bring about change for himself, his family and ultimately his country.

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About the Author:

South-African born journalist Janice Warman writes for the Observer, the Guardian, the Spectator and the Daily Mail. She is the author of The Hey Nonny Handbook, a literary survival guide for women, and Class of '79, the story of three fellow students who risked their lives to help destroy apartheid. Janice lives in Crowborough, East Sussex. Follow her @JaniceWarman

From School Library Journal:

Gr 6-9-Set in 1970s South Africa, this tale is about Joshua, a young boy struggling to survive the racial legacy of apartheid. Joshua's mother works as a maid at the estate of a wealthy white family where they live. He works hard to go unnoticed, until he unintentionally stumbles across a black man trying to evade capture by police. Joshua decides to hide this man without truly understanding the dangers involved. Through this narrative, Joshua witnesses the unravelling of his society and dabbles on the edge of his own morals when pushed to respond to the oppression. The sequence of events often moves too quickly, and characters lack depth, detaching readers from potentially emotional plot points. Joshua's perspective introduces kids to South African history, but without guidance or a previous understanding of apartheid, much of the content's nuances may be missed. Still, the work serves to address a critical aspect of world history and can be a valuable addition to school libraries. VERDICT This book is recommended for use in the classroom as well as for libraries with larger collections and where historical fiction is popular.-Paige Rowse, Needham High School Library, MAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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