Journey to Jo'burg: A South African Story

by Beverley Naidoo

Book Overview

"Has no equal. Evocative and haunting." (School Library Journal starred review)The bestselling classic set in South Africa during the apartheid era, in which two siblings must face the dangers of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 059045384X
• ISBN13: 9780590453844
• Release Date: January 1986
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc
• Length: 76 Pages
• Weight: 0.21 lbs.
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Review for Journey to Jo'burg

Even though I've never traveled as far as Africa, Beverly Naidoo, the author of Journey to Jo'burg, writes so descriptively that she transports me through the past to Johannesburg, South Africa in the time of 1881-1902. I feel like I am in connected to the characters because Beverly Naidoo reminds me that my African ancestors experienced the same intolerance, injustice, and tragedies in the Caribbean and here in America. In Journey to Jo'burg, you land in a town only 300 kilometers away from the historical Johannesburg and journey with a young girl named Naledi and Tiro, her brother. When Naledi's little sister gets sick she and her brother must journey to find their mother who works many miles from their house. Naledi was my favorite character. Silent courage flowed through her. Though she stumbled, Naledi brought herself and Tiro, her young brother, through an experience that became their teacher. They had to deal with the enraged police, the mean bus drivers, and the rude Caucasians who pass helpless Africans by with occasional backwards glances of hatred. Naledi spoke fluidly of all this. Naledi remained firm and truthful and described her situation. She refused to pause because of the rough circumstances around her. The Caucasians believed that Africans should receive no rights and agreed with segregation. They also thought that Africans were 1/3 of a person, so the Africans were objects of constant ridicule. In spite of this, Naledi continued to describe her situation. Along the way, Tiro discovers Mma's neighbor, Grace, who tells the tragic story of the "Horror Day" (my title for the day African students marched against the unfair laws) in 1976. Very few people explain the sorrow Africans experienced from that day on. On that day, students refused to be taught any more rubbish including how to be a servant and topics that did not involve their history. The police, enraged by the outburst, shot hundreds of children. One policeman targeted a girl right next to Grace and killed her. Another imprisoned her brother, Dumi. Finally, her brother was released and he studied in another, safer country. Grace made the story stand out because her words were strong and she seemed more determined than any other person to defeat racial intolerance and the other problems like that in her country. Naledi and Tiro learn, flee, and search along the trip until they reach Johannesburg. There were no more rides or adventures. They are still excited however when they find Mma. They befriend the courageous and friendly Grace who raises their spirits into a land of eternal hope. She says hopeful things like, "We're pushed all over the place, but it won't be like that forever." Journey to Johannesburg's character are fluid and express their feelings. Whether excited, fearful, sad, or depressed, the characters pull you through the books pages and shove their feelings into you. You are jumping up and down when they are hyper from excitement. For example, Mma shows h

A good book

I enjoyed this book. It wasn't the greatest book i've ever read. They treated blacks bad. They couldn't walk on the street without worrying that they would be shot. I liked the ending though. I picked up this book because it had an interesting cover. My favorite charater was Grace. She had a mind of her own. She would yell at the whites for yell at the blacks for yelling at her. This is my review.

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 learn

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 Great Book

Even Through I am a sixth grade this book was great. This book was short and to the point and kept my attion well in reads in about 2 and 1/2 hours