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Burn My Heart (2007)

by Beverley Naidoo(Favorite Author)

3.46 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0141321245 (ISBN13: 9780141321240)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Puffin Books

review 1: FictionFree Choice Burn My Heartby: Beverly NaidooPairing “Burn My Heart” is a heart felt story of two friends one black one white during the 1950s in Kenya. Both “Burn My Heart” and “Son of a Gun” share a story of friendship during a time of warfare.Audience I would recommend this book to a teacher who is teaching the time of apartheid. A student who is interested in learning about prejudice would also like this book.SOL WHII.14 The student will demonstrate knowledge of political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of independence movements and development efforts byb) describing Africa’s achievement of independence, including Jomo Kenyatta’s leadership of Kenya and Nelson Mandela’s role in South Africa;Review Source School Library Journal. Apr200... more9 Curriculum Connection, Vol. 55, p32-32. 1/8p.Awards, Honors International Reading Association Notable Book for a Global Society, 2010African Studies Association Children's Africana Book Award (Honor Book Older Readers), USA 2010ALA Booklist Youth Editors’ Choice and Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth, USA 2009New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, USA 2009Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books, USA 2009Selection Criteria Accuracy: The author accurately depicts what life was like in Kenya during the 1950s. The author grew up in Africa during the time of apartheid. The book gives a balanced perspective from both the white and black character.Authority: Beverly Naidoo is a multi award winning author. She has written other novels including “Journey to Jo'burg”, “Chain of Fire”, “No Turning Back”, “The Other Side of Truth”, and “Web of Lies”. She has also written picture books and non-fiction.Relevance to Curriculum: “Burn My Heart” will help students make a personal connection to the characters experiencing prejudice and difficult friendship decisions.Appropriateness: This book is appropriate for an upper elementary reading level. I think students and teachers would be interested in this book and its connections to the time of apartheid. Students in middle school would be able to understand this book intellectually and emotionally.Scope: This book offers a balanced perspective of a friendship between two boys during a difficult time in history.Literary Merit: The quality of Naidoo’s writing is heartfelt and takes the reader to the battlefields in Kenya.Value to the Collection: This book would be a great addition of historical fiction.Ordering Info $15.99 HardcoverISBN-13: 978-0061432972Amazon
review 2: Burn My Heart takes place in Kenya in the 1950’s was about two boys name Matthew and Mugo who have an uneasy friendship. While Matthew is a white boy and his father owns the land that Mugo is the kitchen toto at, the two boys are friends despite the color of their skin. There is a group called the Mau Mau who once lived on the land but since they didn’t have papers to prove it, it was over taken. Throughout the book they struggle to get their freedom and their land back. When Matthews’s friend from boarding school was over one day, Lance decided that they should cook the mouse like body that Duma the dog had found. Matthew wanted to make sure that they made it hidden away so that no one could see them. They agreed on the narrow strip of land between the back stables and the security fence. It was a small bird so Matthew hoped it wouldn’t take too long to cook. While Lance got his bite of bird down with no problem Matthew on the other hand didn’t have the stomach for that and became instantly sick. Soon after they heard in the distant Mathews mother calling out for them so Lance quickly threw some sand on the fire to put it out. Soon in to the night the family was awakened by horse’s whining frantically. Baba who is Mugo’s dad takes care of Mathew’s dads stables saw the flames and took off to go help. When he arrived at the gate the guards would not let him and turned him away. Police with tall red hats and batons arrived at Baba and Mugo’s in the morning and took them in for questioning by the inspector. Baba was beaten and Mugo had to listen to his screams. They interrogated Mugo next and to every question they asked and he said no they shoved his in a bucket of freezing water holding him down longer each time. What Mugo saw next was something he will never forget. Baba being drugged with his head face down to the ground, by two red hats. Mugo and the rest of his family were soon taken out of Kirinyaga and had to leave behind everything that meant most to them. Mugo had a burn in his heart. less

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