Journey to Jo'burg: A South African Story Book

I found this book humbling and heartwarming. It is written from the viewpoint of two young children in South Africa who struggle to understand the injustice they and their families face. When their baby sister falls gravely ill they courageously decide to travel 300km from their small village to Johannesburg to summon their mother from work. The physical journey is symbolic of their awakening to the wider realities of apartheid; they face danger and experience prejudice, but also meet kind strangers who help to keep them safe and tell them stories about the uprising of students in Soweto.

Michael Rosen's introduction to this recent edition provides an insight into the global political context at the time of its release in 1985. He celebrates Journey to Jo'burg for being the first childrens' book about the lives of black African during apartheid. At the time it was considered so 'dangerous' that it was banned in South Africa. At the back there is a copy of a letter banning the book's import, which gives greater impact to comprehending the extent of governmental corruption.

This is a universal story of hope and determination amidst great opression. I think it would be suitable for upper KS2 and has many cross-curricular learning possibilities. For example: guided reading, with an opportunity for persuasive writing in Literacy to write a reply to the government asking to lift the ban on the book. It could be used to link to PSHE or Citizenship to address bullying and racism, History to examine the apartheid and Geography for studying Africa.