At Her Majesty's Request: An African Princess in Victorian England

At Her Majesty's Request: An African Princess in Victorian England

Written by: Walter Dean Myers

Upper Elementary, Junior High Grades

"Myers pieces together bits of history and letters to form a unique and dramatic mosaic: the life of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, a seven-year-old African (Egbado) princess saved by an English naval officer from a rival tribe's ritual sacrifice in 1850. Sarah is brought to England, where Queen Victoria puts the girl under her protection until Sarah's marriage. The queen also acted as godmother to Sarah's first child and met and corresponded with Sarah throughout her life. Through Sarah's story, Myers offers insights into Victorian attitudes and society and examines the flow of people and ideas between England and Africa during the period. The inclusion of passages from Sarah's correspondence helps bring her to life, and Sarah's photo on the jacket brings readers face-to-face with this remarkable young woman. An intriguing biography as well as an unusual source for those interested in British or African history."

Booklist Review

Online Resources:
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=1036_type=Book_typeId=3965
http://www.scholastic.ca/titles/athermajestysrequest/

A Long Walk to Water

A Long Walk to Water

Written by: Linda Sue Park

"A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about a girl in Sudan in 2008 and a boy in Sudan in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours’ walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the "lost boys" of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way."

**Jennie's note ... to build background knowledge for this book teachers could use Brothers in Hope written by Mary Williams prior to reading. There are additional stories about "The Lost Boys of Sudan" in the online resources section below.


Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.lindasuepark.com/books/longwalk/longwalk.html
http://www.lostboysfilm.com/

The Best Beekeeper in Lalibela: A Tale from Africa

The Best Beekeeper in Lalibela: A Tale from Africa

Written by: Cristina Kessler
Illustrated by: Leonard Jenkins

"A traditional Ethiopian tale describing one girl’s attempt to challenge society’s
views of women and their roles, and her quest to be the best beekeeper in her village."

Online Resources:
http://www.cristinakessler.com/Books_8.htm

Kings and Queens of Africa

Kings and Queens of Africa

Written by: Sylviane Anna Diouf

"Each book in this series -- West, Central, Southern and East Africa-- looks at different eras to show how the region evolved through time and the most significant rulers of the region. Some were more famous than others, and some well-known figures do not appear here. I have presented social, political, and cultural innovators who connected their kingdoms to a much larger world, or brought various groups together into one people. These rulers left important legacies."

Online Resources:
http://www.sylvianediouf.com/kings_and_queens_of_africa_3753.htm
http://www.mrrudy.com/kingsandqueens.htm

No Turning Back: A Novel of South Africa

No Turning Back: A Novel of South Africa

Written by: Beverley Naidoo

"The setting of this book is Johannesburg, South Africa, on the eve of the election of Mandela. In a setting of burnings and police raids, a homeless boy searches for help in a city shelter. The author develops both the complexities associated with the political settings and the personal conflicts as people are caught in the social unrest. After reading the book, students begin to realize the complexities of political conflicts."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:

Waiting for the Rain

Waiting for the Rain

Written by: Sheila Gordon

"This novel shows the bonds of friendship under the strain of apartheid as two lifelong friends, Tengo and Frikkie, come of age amidst the tragedy of South Africa."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/curric/middle/eng/7.html#waitrain