October: Torchbearers
by Wendy Maartens
Review by Puseletso B. Motsemedi
About the author
Wendy lives and works in lovely Kleinmond. Her passion is to help children to better understand their own world and each other across cultural boundaries through the stories of their ancestors. Wendy is the only children’s book author in South Africa who has produced 12 anthologies of high quality under this banner in the last 16 years. Her canonization of folktales, legends and true stories to hero stories, animal stories and ghost stories treads deeply into the literary storyscape of conservation as children are empowered to face the challenges of every day through stories.The story
The women of 1956 marched to the Union building in unison because the pass laws that were oppressive. These women, from all backgrounds and races were torchbearers to a poet, social and legal advocates. These women, who are as colorful as their backgrounds and professions, share something common: the need to be somebody.Under oppression, each faced monumental struggle to be accepted, loved and make their dreams come true in a country that concerned itself in pass laws, censorship and telling women what they can and can’t be. The cost of speaking up, made or broke their careers, threatening their financial and mental wellbeing. In the midst of all the violence and personal battles, they needed to confront the toughest job; motherhood.
I recommend this book to all because it is child friendly and emphasizes the role of a family in the upbringing of a child. The role of a father to a girl child can’t be underestimated because a father provides structure, identity, self confidence and love because men see the world differently. The women of 1956 played their part and passed the torch to these torchbearers who have also played their part. What part have you played to make the world better? To whom are you passing the torch to?
About the reviewer
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Puseletso B. Motsemedi
Puseletso B. Motsemedi has always loved reading from a young age. Coming from a religious background, she enjoyed reading the Bible and as she got exposed to American culture, she savoured comic books. Currently she pores over home and food magazines (a terrible cook, so she's making an effort, let's park it there). A staunch Thunder Cats and Boondocks fanatic who has love interests in STEM, Finance, yoga, beauty and fast cars. She dreams of being a passenger in a Dodge Viper or Ford Shelby (alongside Charles LeClerc). In her spare time you'll find her watching 48 hours or Medical detectives, listening to podcasts on Spotify, eating out or shopping for anything but clothes because she hates ironing with passion.”
All "Book of the Month" reviews
Here you find all reviews of the series Book of the Month. All books are available in Goethe-Institute library in Johannesburg.
