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IBBY SA Honour List Books 2012

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 03 Nov 2011   |   

The following announcement was made on Wednesday 26 October 2011
at a function held at the Centre for the Book in Cape Town:

These titles were nominated as IBBY SA’s Honour List Books 2011

1 Afrikaans author: Linda Rode for In die Nimmer-Immer-Bos.

2 English author: S.A. Partridge for Fuse.

3 Translator: André P. Brink for the Afrikaans translation of Die avonture van Alice
in Wonderland.

4 Illustrator: Joan Rankin for the illustrations of Just Sisi.

IBBY South Africa is one of 74 international sections of the International Board on Books for Young People.

IBBY SA serves as an umbrella body to bring together everyone involved with books and young people: readers, writers, illustrators, translators, editors, librarians, publishers.

The Honour List books will be presented at the IBBY World Congress in London 23–25 August 2012 as having made a special contribution to the recent literature for children and young people in South Africa.

For more information, contact
IBBY SA Chairperson
Robin Malan
at robinmal@iafrica.com
or on 076 169 2789

In die Nimmer-Immer-Bos
Tafelberg
ISBN:9780624047674

Fuse
Human & Rousseau
ISBN:9780798150873

Die avonture van Alice in Wonderland
Human & Rousseau
ISBN:9780798151511

Just Sisi
Human & Rousseau
ISBN:9780798152204

Book details

• In die Nimmer-Immer Bos by Linda Rode, illustrated by Fiona Moodie
  Book homepage
  EAN: 9780624047674
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• Fuse by SA Partridge
  Book homepage
  EAN: 9780798150873
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• Just Sisi by Wendy Hartmann, illustrated by Joan Rankin
  EAN: 9780798152204
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Journalism Students Co-Author Crime Book Project

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 24 Oct 2011   |   

When a class of final year journalism students at the Durban University of Technology discussed a Daily News front page story about two serial hijackers earlier this year, little did they know that three of them would later be liaising with leading authors, including top South African crime writer, Mike Nicol, and journalism guru, Denis Beckett, about writing a book about the two dead men.

The students, Joel Burton, Sandile Gumede and Sabelo Nsele, are currently undergoing training with the Durban-based investigative journalism agency, Roving Reporters. The young writers’ opening package of stories, Tale of Two Hijackers, was recently published in two parts by the Daily News.

But this is just the start, compliments of a writing workshop with Beckett, and now the GetSmarter Write a Non-Fiction Story course run by Nicol in association with Random House Struik publishers.

Beckett reckons the students’ work on the story of two juvenile-offenders-turned-serial hijackers, Vivi Mthembu and Siphelele Shezi, has potential to be a kind of South African version of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood – a non-fiction novel detailing the gruesome murder in 1959 of Herbert Clutter, a wealthy Kansas, US farmer, his wife and two of their children.

“You’re cadet journalists, barely a published word to your names, jointly or individually, and what you’re working on has potential to be a global hit,” Beckett recently wrote to the students.

“The story hooks you from the word go,” says Nicol.

• Read complete article at iOL

22 Year Old South African Writer has 18th Book Published

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 22 Jun 2011   |   

A young Durban author is set to take the world by storm with his writing skills.

Khulekani Magubane (22) from Estcourt in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, has written and published 17 books.

Magubane, a journalism graduate from the Durban University of Technology (DUT) is working on his 18th book, due to be published later this year.

The book, The McClew Brothers and the Dark Maiden, is, according to Magubane, a teen novel thriller.

“I write about whatever I see around me. There are very interesting stories and I enjoy interpreting them from my point of view. Issues I care about tend to make better stories. Through my books I simply aim to portray the world as I see it, or as I would like it to be,” said Magubane.

He started writing at the tender age of seven and saw his first work being published in 2004 when he was still at high school.

The expression Readers are Leaders was inspiration for Magubane whose love for literature by well-known South African authors spurred him to write.

Magubane believes that great things can be achieved from sharing ideas, “not necessarily trying to make resolutions but just hearing each other out”.

Magubane draws his inspiration from the works of Zakes Mda.

He is particularly fond of Mda’s novel, Black Diamond, which Magubane says “has relevance”, something he wants to achieve in his own writing.

Magubane also enjoys Wilbur Smith.

Sifiso Mzobe whose novel, Young Blood, was selected for the Oprah Winfrey Book Club, holds a special place on his list.

Magubane’s books are published by Felicity Keats of Umsinsi Press.

• Read complete article

Cover2Cover Targets the SA Teen Market

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 05 Apr 2011   |   

New publisher targets teen readership

Finally, a truly gripping South African novel which will appeal to all
teenagers. Broken Promises is written by acclaimed author Ros Haden and,
besides dealing with the fears, fun and anxieties of teens, is a
roller-coaster, modern thriller. The book is short and pacy; the language
is easy to understand. The characters are well realised and every reader
will connect with the heroine, Ntombi.

Broken Promises is the first of a series of books centred on a group of
teens who attend Harmony High, a fictional township high school; the good,
the bad and the oddities. It reflects the real-life issues and choices
facing these teens. The messages are positive but not preachy.

The Harmony High series of books read like soap-opera paperbacks, dealing
with teenage angst in a very readable and accessible way.

The new publisher, Cover2Cover, is owned by Cape Town-based women – Ros
Haden, Mignon Hardie, Dorothy Dyer and Palesa Morudu – whose common passion
is reading and have together combined writing and business skills into this
social entrepreneurship venture.

“Few South African publishers cater for the mass youth market, largely
because it is not proven to be financially viable: young people lack
disposable income and books are often seen as luxury items. Cover2Cover aims
to fill this gap through its uniquely South African books and an innovative
business model,” says managing director Mignon Hardie.

The business model combines reading and social media. To this end,
Cover2Cover has founded the FunDza Literacy Trust as an equal shareholder
that will use social media to promote literacy among teenagers. Readers of
Cover2Cover’s Harmony High books are invited to join FunDza’s mobile reading
club.

“It is an exciting project and one which will soon take SA teen readers by
storm. Watch this space,” says Hardie.

Companies are also invited to participate in the initiative through various
partner opportunities, including product placement, brand advertising,
sponsorships and more. Individuals can also buy the books to read, or
donated them to schools, libraries and youth centres in under-resourced
areas.

To find out more about Cover2Cover and the FunDza Literacy Trust contact
Mignon Hardie on 083 776 8753 or mignon@cover2cover.co.za

www.cover2cover.co.za

• Read complete article

April's Recommended Books for Preteens and Teens From Cape Town's Child

by Chelsea on 28 Mar 2011   |   

Fact Finder By Helen Lewis.
A fun-filled collection of facts aimed at children in the intermediate school phase (Grades 4 to 6). It is a basic, but general, reference book integrating all areas of the national curriculum: Arts & culture; Economic management sciences (EMS); Language; Life orientation (LO); Mathematics; Natural sciences; Social sciences (History and Geography); Technology. In addition to the basic information that will also be taught at school, each section contains loads of interesting asides, references to websites and other sources of information, and suggestions for interesting things to do and places to visit. Parents have a huge selection of books to choose from for younger children, and there are many study-guides available for high schoolers, but this age group has been neglected with hardly any references aimed at their level. This title is a companion for every child in this group who will lap up the information and have fun sharing the facts.

Running Wild By Michael Morpurgo.
The epic and heart-rending jungle adventure from the nation’s favourite storyteller, now available in paperback. For Will and his mother, going to Indonesia isn’t just a holiday. It’s an escape, a new start, a chance to put things behind them – things like the death of Will’s father. And to begin with, it seems to be just what they both needed. But then Oona, the elephant Will is riding on the beach, begins acting strangely, shying away from the sea. And that’s when the tsunami comes crashing in, and Oona begins to run. Except that when the tsunami is gone, Oona just keeps on running. With nothing on his back but a shirt and nothing to sustain him but a bottle of water, Will must learn to survive deep in the jungle. Luckily, though, he’s not completely alone! He’s got Oona.

Ottoline at Sea By Chris Riddell.
This is the third Ottoline story from award-winning and bestselling author Chris Riddell. Ottoline and Mr Munroe do everything and go everywhere together. That is, until the day Mr Munrow mysteriously disappears leaving a strange clue written in string… Armed with her Amateur Roving Collectors’ travel pass, Ottoline sets off on a journey over, under and on top of the sea to find her hairy best friend, and bring him back home. The book comes with goggles to help your child see Ottoline’s world more clearly. The Ottoline series is very popular among young children, and includes Ottoline goes to School and Ottoline and the Yellow Cat.

Book details

• Fact Finder by Helen Lewis
  EAN: 9781920268725
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• Running Wild by Michael Morpurgo
  EAN: 9780007267026
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• Ottoline at Sea by Chris Riddell
  EAN: 9781405050593
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New Nollybooks Series Targets South Africa's Black 'Aliterate' Group

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 26 Jan 2011   |   

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Arizona Shezi is a sassy young journalism student and a mysterious beauty with “chocolate skin” and “long braided hair.”

Jason Khoza is a hotshot businessman in an expensive suit, with a strong face like “a sculpture of a Zulu warrior.”

The two attractive young South Africans meet when he arrives as a guest lecturer at Shezi’s university. But their chances at love are jeopardized by an expose she writes for the student paper on his company’s dodgy business dealings.

This is the kind of story that Moky Makura, publisher of a new series of romance novels, is hoping will turn young South African women into avid readers. The “Nollybooks” series of chick lit books is aimed at 16- to 24-year-old black women, many of whom are not in the habit of reading for pleasure. In South Africa, while the adult literacy rate is 88 percent, many people are “aliterate” — they can read, but choose not to.

Publishers don’t bother targeting this young female demographic, Makura said. “That was an opportunity I spotted.”

Makura has a clear idea of what she wants in a book: urban, aspirational, good-girl heroines who face a romantic development in their lives, with the story set in real South African locations — a Soweto version of “Sex and the City.”

• Visit Nollybooks here

Children's Book About Zimbabwe Wins Costa Award

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 19 Jan 2011   |   

LONDON (Reuters) – A children’s story about a British boy who encounters racism and bullying in the classroom after emigrating to Zimbabwe in the early 1980s was among the Costa Book Award winners announced on Tuesday.

“Out of Shadows,” set during Robert Mugabe’s early years in power, is Jason Wallace’s first novel, and is based in part on his own experiences as a child when he moved to Zimbabwe with his family at the age of 12.

“For us, this extraordinary debut novel was a unanimous winner,” the panel of judges said in a statement. “This compelling portrayal of a nation in crisis gripped us from start to finish and has stayed with us since.”

Out of Shadows was one of five category winners at the annual book awards, which honour writers based in the UK and Ireland.

Each category winner receives 5,000 pounds ($8,000) and has a chance to claim the overall Costa Book of the Year Award worth a further 30,000 pounds. It will be announced in London on January 25.

Kishwar Desai picked up the first novel award for “Witness the Night,” centring around social worker Simran Singh’s investigation into the murders of 13 people.

The judges praised Desai for having “fearlessly blown the lid on the problems that simmer under the surface of modern-day India.”

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Book details

• Out of Shadows by Jason Wallace
  Book homepage
  EAN: 9781849390484
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More Recommeded Books From Cape Town's Child for Preteens and Teens

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 01 Dec 2010   |   

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
The Summer I Turned Pretty turned Jenny Han into a celebrity overnight and there is even talk of a film based on the book. Everything that happened this past summer, and every summer before it, has all led up to this. To now. Every year Isabel spends a perfect summer at her family friends’ house. There’s the swimming pool at night, the private stretch of sandy beach …and the two boys. Unavailable, aloof Conrad – who she’s been in love with forever – and friendly, relaxed Jeremiah, the only one who’s ever really paid her any attention. But this year something is different. They seem to have noticed her for the first time. It’s going to be an amazing summer – and one she’ll never forget…

Top 10 of Everything 2011 by Russell Ash
There are lots of books on the market that can tell you who’s number 1, but that never gives you the whole picture: How big is the margin between 1st and 2nd place? How does the 5th best compare? Was number 10 really that far off the pace? Top 10 of Everything 2011 answers these questions and many, many more, with brand new and updated lists and over 7,000 of the most intriguing facts about history, science, sports, music, movies, nature, people and places. Did you know that the country that spends the on toys and games is the UK? Or that Percy Montgomery is placed ninth (with Australia’s Stephen Larkham) in the top 10 most-capped players in international rugby? And as if that wasn’t enough to quench your thirst for knowledge, this fascinating full-color book also includes feature spreads that are packed with insightful information and additional lists that really give you the low-down on your favorite records. This is one of those books that will entertain the whole family.

Dead Man’s Cove by Lauren St John
In a book world obseessed with vampires, Lauren St John has revived the good old detective story with a thoroughly modern and tenacious heroine. With a suitcase full of books that have long been her window on the world, Laura Marlin goes to live with her uncle in Cornwall, convinced that a life of adventure is hers at last. But everywhere she turns she’s confronted with mysteries. When Laura finds a message on a bottle, she embarks on a deadly quest – one that will test her detective skills to the limit and set her on a collision course with villains who will stop at nothing to get their own way.

Unhooking the Moon by Gregory Hughes
When their father dies suddenly, Marie Claire (or the Rat, as she’s better known) and her older brother Bob are left all alone in the world, except for a mysterious uncle who they’ve never met and is said to be living somewhere in New York City. Afraid of being sent to a children’s home (Rat is dancing, football-playing gangter-baiting 10 year old, but she also has a long-term illness and is prone to fits), they set off on a journey to find him. Along the way they meet very interesting characters, end up in scary situations and have to endure all kinds of onslaughts. Unhooking the Moon is one of those rare books that grips you, leaves you bittersweet and then elated.

Book details

• The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
  Ages 12 and up
  EAN: 9780141330532
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• Top 10 of Everything 2011 by Russell Ash
  EAN: 9780600617433
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• Dead Man’s Cove by Lauren St John
  EAN: 9781444000207
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• Unhooking the Moon by Gregory Hughes
  Ages 12 and up
  EAN: 9781849162951
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Romeo and Jabulile Tackle Xenophobia

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 11 Nov 2010   |   

I just recieved a copy of Romeo and Jabulile by Lutz Van Dijk recently and I’m still busy with it but thought I should share another review I came across. Read here for more

Romeo And Jabulile by Lutz van Dijk (Maskew Miller Longman), R59,95. ISBN: 9780636044760 – Township love stories do not comprise popcorn and Coke at a cinema or a romantic lunch at a fancy restaurant. Afrikaans author Lutz van Dijk knows this and portrays it very well in this unorthodox love story.

The introduction for Romeo and Jabulile quotes Desmond Tutu, speaking after South Africa suffered bouts of xenophobic attacks. Romeo, a Zimbabwean, falls in love with Jabulile, a local, and no one is happy with this.

It highlights how much more harder this relationship has to fight for the two to be together.

The story does away with the frills of what has become the norm in the romance genre. Romeo And Jabulile is not only socially relevant but it is contemporary and edgy at the same time too.

It might be aimed at the youth, but provides an intriguing setting for love. Van Dijk also used it as an educational tool by translating some Xhosa words into English.

These also include each chapter’s heading. There is a concise glossary of common township words that are used in Western Cape townships such as Langa, Gugulethu and Khayelitsha.

SIBUSISO MKWANAZI

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Book details

• Romeo and Jabulile by Lutz Van Dijk
  EAN: 9780636098152
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Cape Towns Child's Recommended Reads for Preteens and Teens This Month

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 11 Nov 2010   |   

In the Trees by Pauline Fisk. All around him, the smell of trees rose from the ground, earthy and dank, just the way he’d smelt it that first day. And he’d heard a voice that day, which he’d thought was calling out a welcome. But really it had been calling out for help. Kid Cato’s come to Belize, on the Caribbean coast. He’s left behind his life in London and is looking for his dad. But what he finds instead is a group of gap year volunteers. They’re just the boring, do-good types he’s always hated, but he’s stuck with them. Stuck with the jungle too – but, by the time it’s done with him, he’l never be the same. And neither will Kid’s new companions. Living in the trees will change them all. ‘Forest are like lungs. They breathe life into us and make us one. Here we are from worlds apart. And thanks to the forest we’re sharing one life. Where we come from doesn’t matter, or what we once were in the past. It’s what we are now that matters. It’s what we make of ourselves.’