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This book is aimed at children aged 8-12. It contains 30 stories set in and around Cape Town, each on a single A4 landscape page, and each accompanied by an original illustration on the facing page, painted by the author.
This book fills a yawning gap in the trade market as there are currently no books in local libraries or bookstores which bring these traditional stories to life for children.
The stories cover the history of Cape Town from the beginnings of time until the release of Nelson Mandela, and include true stories, myths, legends, and ghost stories. Importantly, too, they are representative of diverse cultural and racial groups.
'Bye Bye, Black Sheep' is a coming-of-age story about three young
South Africans (two black and one white; two boys and one girl) set
against the background of apartheid. It is a gripping adventure
story with elements of mystery and suspense, but it also explores
such universal themes as the quest for identity, unreasonable
parental expectations, inter-racial relationships, racism and
patriotism, and, most crucially, loyalty and betrayal. It
acknowledges the complexity of such issues and avoids providing
glib anwers. The narrator is Chris Bates, an insecure young man,
who turns out to be something of an anti-hero. His best friend (and
rival) is Goodwill Mavume, who has great potential, but is racked
by internal conflict. Goodwill's younger sister, Miriam, is a
bright and vivacious young woman who falls in love with Chris. The
contraints of boarding school life, the unrealistic expectations of
parents, the clash of cultures, the sinister intrigues of the
security police, and their own impetuosity all have a devastating
impact on the lives of these young people. As with any tragedy,
there is much in this novel that is uplifting and noble. The
characters will certainly live with you long after you've shared
their story.
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