Seraki's Soweto life takes a new direction when, almost by accident, he lands a part in a musical drama. The angry play is called iSezela, after a powerful, menacing crocodile in African myth, symbol of many kinds of oppression. The crocodile haunts Seraki: His brother Phakane is a political prisoner; the Naughty Boys, a gang of urban terrorists, is extorting money from his family; and the play, initially a liberating experience, becomes a nightmarish trap after its wild success in South Africa leads to a Broadway run and the director, Mosake, changes from inspirational leader to violent, exploitative tyrant. The author's theatrical experience stands him in good stead; readers will get a good sense of the work involved in a stage production and the heady feeling when it all comes together. While his lurid, harshly ironic portrait of N.Y.C. is unconvincing, Williams's insider's view of South Africa will open some eyes. The book ends on several hopeful notes: Seraki and the rest of the cast confront Masake, negotiate fairer contracts, and celebrate Nelson Mandela's release and also Phakane's—the crocodile's grip is slipping. ``So many things are happening in this country, Seraki, so many good things!'' (Fiction. 12-15)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-525-67401-2
Page Count: 198
Publisher: Dutton
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1992
Weather through the initially chilly intra-familial relationships, tinny dialogue and unfamiliar-sounding names to learn how Willa Raedl, 17, survives her plane crash in a snowy wilderness. Willa is having a hard time in high school. Her brother recently died in a skiing accident and her family members are trying to cope. She decides she needs to get away for a while. Over the weekend, she is to copilot a small commuter plane piloted by her uncle, picking up Willa’s mother who works long shifts as a nurse in remote parts of the county. When Willa discovers her uncle fast asleep and drunk, she decides to take the plane herself. She’s successful for most of the way until something goes wrong with the plane and she crash lands in a snow-covered lake-bound wilderness. How Willa survives will immediately engage any young adult, male or female, especially those with a fondness for the great outdoors. Readers will cheer her on in all her spirited ingenuity and will to survive. Educators will appreciate the non-stereotypical teenage female character and could successfully pair this novel with Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet in a thematic unit on survival. (Fiction. 12-15)
Pub Date: May 31, 2006
ISBN: 1-932425-45-4
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Front Street/Boyds Mills
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2006
BOOK REVIEW
Seventeen-year-old Tommy Johnson thinks he’s a creep. His nose is too large, he’s too skinny, too short and his hair frizzes. These are the reasons he’s never dated, held hands or kissed a girl, and now he has to wear glasses. 1963 is shaping up to be the worst year of his life; Tommy might as well throw himself off the George Washington Bridge. On his way there, something makes him stop and look in the window of Grayson’s Music, where he sees an album cover with a guy like him (Bob Dylan), walking arm-in-arm with a beautiful girl. Eureka! If he were a folksinger (or just looked like one), he could get a girl. Tommy goes to Greenwich Village, buys a cheap guitar, learns one chord and meets Angelina. Through a simple twist of fate (or about 20 of them), he ends up on national TV and gets the girl. The head writer for Sponge Bob, among other Nickelodeon shows, Banks has produced a laugh-out-loud, hormone-saturated misadventure. Tommy’s not always the most likable ubergeek antihero, but by story’s end he’s redeemed himself. Inventive and wholly unbelievable, but fun from beginning to end. (Fiction. 12-15)
Pub Date: May 9, 2006
ISBN: 0-375-83291-2
Page Count: 250
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2006
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
