This week on Top Ten Tuesday with The Broke and The Bookish, the topic is Top Ten Books I’d Recommend to X Person. For my “person” I choose the average South African teen – young boys and girls of our country who grow up in difficult socio-economic circumstances. These are the books I’d recommend to them – granted, their reading ability would need to be up to scratch, which reportedly is not the case with many of our scholars, but none of these books are difficult reads.
1. Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes
Very similar to the film Freedom Writers – high school kids in the Bronx who learn to change their lives through the power of words.
2. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Hope that there is a hand reaching out to children suffering at the hands of parents and peers.
3. Maverick: Extraordinary Women from South Africa’s Past by Lauren Beukes
In a country where women are still often looked down upon, especially in poorer communities, these well-told stories may very well uplift thousands of young girls and women.
4. PostSecret books by Frank Warren
I have often wondered what the millions of underprivileged teenagers would write if given the opportunity to send a secret. I would like to introduce them all to PostSecrets.
5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
The books that fed a generation. I want South African kids to know that evil can be beaten underfoot.
6. My Dad: By South African Sons by Ierephaan Abrahams
In a country where fathers are often absent, this book too offers great insight for those who have involved fathers, and those who don’t.
7. Shade’s Children by Garth Nix
Because sometimes the person you think is there to help you, really isn’t. Also, I firmly believe that reading your first dystopian is a sort of developmental milestone.
8. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
Don’t think for one moment that children in poverty don’t have time for bullying, because they do. Kids with albinism are victims of superstitions and bullying here just as in other parts of the world. South African kids need to read about diverse and strong characters from their own continent. (In case there is any confusion, Sunny and her friends in Akata Witch do not live in poverty. The reason I add this book is because of the magic, the bravery, the albinic main character who proves she is more than her stereotype, and because she is a strong African character.)
9. A Patch of Blue by Elizabeth Kata
Themes of racism, disability and love.
10. Beauty’s Gift by Sindiwe Magona
A chick-lit style story of South African women who have to confront the complexities of relationships on a background of the country’s HIV-pandemic.
P.S: watch this talk at the recent TEDx Table Mountain, about story telling.
Barefoot Whispers 
A really great list. Some I have read and loved myself and some that I have never heard of but will definitely be looking to pick up.
Thanks – they’re all good reads, if you can find them 🙂
Great list, I love how unique your topic is for this week. I’ve never read Nix’s Shade’s Children but I loved his Abhorsen trilogy so will have to look into those.
My TTT
I read Shade’s Children before I read the Abhorsen Trilogy. They’re both wonderful, though different. Hope you’ll enjoy it if you do read it. Thanks for stopping by!
Wow, interesting target demographic, never seen it before. And some awesome books! I need to get on Eleanor and Park. HP, of course. One of my faves.
Happy reading!
Thank you. I don’t know if enough people focus on books that would resonate with kids over here. We get a very Westernised reading experience and though there is nothing “wrong” with that, it’s good for kids to read work relevant to their contexts. Ah, well. Thanks for stopping by!
Wow, cool list! Harry Potter for the win =)
Our TTT
Doris @ OABR
Thank you!