The majority of people in South Africa were black, but they were treated as second-rate citizens who couldn’t aspire to more than being the servants of those in power. For example, at the very beginning of the story, Naledi and Tiro decide that because they would get in trouble for asking for money to pay for a telegram, they should walk to Johannesburg, a city over 300 kilometers away.

It inspires Naledi to want to share her story and whilst, raising poignant questions regarding the brutal and controlling system of government, the novel ends on a hopeful note that things can perhaps change. Zambia comes from the name of the river Zambezi, the rest are not related, but still retain the Z, maybe this will help me in the future.The book is set in the time of the Apartheid in South Africa and goes through the different things which are different today for black people. Grace helps them find their mother’s workplace and offers them a place to spend the night in Soweto. All those lesson on writing letters…for jobs as servants…always writing how good they were at cooking, cleaning, washing, gardening…always ending with “Yours obediently. The story seemed somewhat unbelievable, as if the author wanted to show us about South Africa and this was simply the method she chose to use. Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.

Fun-filled activities help children to fully engage with each story, encouraging a love of reading and building a range of skills. Roger Federer has some connections with the country (wiki: his mother is from there); Nelson Mandela; Charlize Theron; 2010 FIFA World Cup (vuvuzela. Certain that their sister needs a doctor, they decide to disobey their grandmother’s wishes and leave their small town to journey to Johannesburg where their mother works as a servant to get her help.Although most children have not lived long, if ever, in the country if their family's origin, they may feel a connection to it. In a no name village, two children aged 13 and 9 decide to go to Jo'burg to bring their mother home - the only person able to maybe save their little sister, severely sick for several days. This part of the story opens the children’s eyes even more to the uncertainties and dangers of life in South Africa. Journey to Jo’Burg is set in South Africa during the apartheid and tells the story of Naledi and Tiro who, frightened that their baby sister Dineo will die, take a 300km journey to find their mother who works there as a maid. As well as clear character descriptions and vivid imagery, there are many themes running through the story as it deals with racism and prejudice along with family, love and determination.