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yaopliu's review against another edition
3.0
I agree with the general consensus that "Born a Crime" is a multifaceted memoir, blending humor, emotion, and insights into important societal issues like apartheid, domestic violence, and poverty. The emphasis on education throughout the narrative was particularly noteworthy.
However, I did notice an instance where a certain topic was glossed over, and that was his experiences of receiving beatings from his mother, which was not extensively explored. Instead, the memoir often portrays his mother in a heroic light, which was somewhat disconcerting to me. While Trevor Noah's upbringing and family dynamics present rich material for deeper examination, the narrative opts for a more surface-level treatment of these complexities.
However, I did notice an instance where a certain topic was glossed over, and that was his experiences of receiving beatings from his mother, which was not extensively explored. Instead, the memoir often portrays his mother in a heroic light, which was somewhat disconcerting to me. While Trevor Noah's upbringing and family dynamics present rich material for deeper examination, the narrative opts for a more surface-level treatment of these complexities.
lanica's review against another edition
5.0
I have not read the original (mature) version. I don't think I need to.
This book was wonderful on so many levels! I love Trevor Noah from his TV and YouTube bits. I agree with him politically. I enjoy learning about other cultures and lives. This was a perfect book for me.
As a teacher, it is also a perfect book. He doesn't try to tell anyone what they should believe - but he states his own beliefs clearly, with reasoning to back them up. He is a brilliant storyteller and even when he does something 'wrong' he admits that he might not make the same choices, not that he has lived more of his life. He doesn't say he regrets anything, just that he didn't have all the information at that point and did what seemed the best thing at the time.
He talks about the history of South Africa in a way that is easy to understand, and from the point of view of someone directly impacted by it. It's not a dry lecture about the causes and effects of apartheid. It is one man's interaction with a system that treated his family as less than human. It was fascinating and terrifying at the same time. Only made less so by the knowledge that everything turns out all right in the end. At least for this one mixed-race boy.
Every school library should have this book. I suggest multiple copies.
Every teacher and administrator should read this book. It should be a staff book club.
This book was wonderful on so many levels! I love Trevor Noah from his TV and YouTube bits. I agree with him politically. I enjoy learning about other cultures and lives. This was a perfect book for me.
As a teacher, it is also a perfect book. He doesn't try to tell anyone what they should believe - but he states his own beliefs clearly, with reasoning to back them up. He is a brilliant storyteller and even when he does something 'wrong' he admits that he might not make the same choices, not that he has lived more of his life. He doesn't say he regrets anything, just that he didn't have all the information at that point and did what seemed the best thing at the time.
He talks about the history of South Africa in a way that is easy to understand, and from the point of view of someone directly impacted by it. It's not a dry lecture about the causes and effects of apartheid. It is one man's interaction with a system that treated his family as less than human. It was fascinating and terrifying at the same time. Only made less so by the knowledge that everything turns out all right in the end. At least for this one mixed-race boy.
Every school library should have this book. I suggest multiple copies.
Every teacher and administrator should read this book. It should be a staff book club.
dizzyappealam's review against another edition
5.0
read in middle school. Was so good. Cried so much at the end.
notesonbookmarks's review
challenging
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.5
My kids and I all cried by the end. I've read the full version of this before and love that they make this young reader version accessible.
readwithsaray's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts
tracyw's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0