Upstart 10 Nov 09.pdf - Grocott's Mail

16 UPSTART 10 NOVEMBER 2009BOOK REVIEWS...Fair good exellent must readTitle of the book: Moby DickAuthor: Herman MelvilleThe main characters are MisterStubb, Starbuck, Flask, Ishmael,Queegqueg, Ahab and Tashtego.The story starts with the Pequodsailing across the Indian Oceanwith her crew scouting forwhales in a desert of blue water.They lowered once for an oldsperm whale, but as soon asthe chase was over and he wasdead, his great body started tosink. Sometime later the whaleswere moving about in greatconfusion beating the waterwith their fins and tails. Insidethe floating walls of whales thewater was as glassy and smoothas on a lake.I do not want to spell out thefull story but I will say it is a veryinteresting and enjoyable storythat anyone can read. I like thisbook for several reasons, firstly itshows the name of the chapterso you do not forget where youare reading. Secondly, it hasmany different stories and theyare all enjoyable. Thirdly, I evenlike the pictures and the wordsare larger so that you can seevery clearly.The best part of the story iswhen the inside of the floatingwalls of the whales were asclear as a lake. I think that manyteenagers would like this book,especially readers who enjoyreading about animals of the seaand the ocean. Also those wholike to fish will enjoy reading thisbook.The book is available at the HillStreet Library. It is published byUsborne Publishing Ltd and theISBN number is 0 7460 7666 5.Review by Phumlani FatyiGrade 8Mary Waters High SchoolTitle of the book is:Ongenagama (The childwith no name)Author: J. van TonderThe main characters areAmazolo, Mlenzana, Thandi,Mvula, Nomsa, Sipho, Zuziweand Zolile. The story startswith Amazolo carryingMlenzana's child and sheprays to uNkulunkulu thatthe child would die. Sheignored the laws of theforefathers and she dideverything she was notsupposed to do. She hatedthe child so much becauseMlenzana left her.I do not want to spell outthe full story but I will saywhen she started to havelabour pains she was gladthinking that the child woulddie, but Zuziwe didn't allowthat. The child was given toThandi and Mvula. Whenshe gave away the child shewas glad. I like this bookfor several reasons, firstly,it tells a story of what mostwomen do these days andit shows the pain that theyhave when they have losttheir loved ones. Secondly, inthe middle it made the childfeel lonely, fearful, joyousand most of all he discoveredan unsympathetic world.Thirdly, is that in this storyuniversal problems featurestrongly: lost love, bitterness,jealousy, blame, lonelinessand conflict.The best part of the story waswhen Amazolo told the childabout how she didn't wanthim because of his fatherand why she didn't givehim a name and called him'Ongenagama' (the child withno name).I think that many teenagerswould like this book,especially readers who enjoyreading stories based onour lives because this bookis based on reality and theproblems pregnant womenface each and everyday oftheir nine months and after.I got this book at school.It is published by MaskewMiller Longman and the ISBNnumber is 0-636-07059-X.By Sibahle FosiGrade 9Archie Mbolekwa Higher PrimarySchoolThe title of the book is: TheCruel WarAuthor: Kwasi KorantengThe main characters are Maa,Louisa, Roman, Paye and Paa.The story starts with Maa andPaye. Paye is noticing thathis mother is reducing, sheis no longer full of energyand fat. That was all becauseof the war. This family hasbeen evicted and they had torelocate and it has been dayssince they ate. Paye can'tcope with seeing his motherdying and he went to searchfor food and that did nothelp because there was wareverywhere they went.Sometime later it was arainy day and the family hadenough time to gather waterto use. Paye woke up atmidnight and all the soldierswere asleep and he wentto Paa's house far away tosearch for food. He could notget the food and his motherwas in such a bad statebecause of poverty. Payenever gave up and he kepton searching. I do not wantto spell out the full story but Iwill say this story shows us aspeople that there are manychildren who are dealingwith big things out there. Italso shows us how the worldwas before. It encouragesus and motivates learnersnot to give up and that theymust believe in themselves,whatever it is they can do itby praying to God.I like this book for severalreasons, firstly it gives fulldetails about what the warwas like before. It showsus that the youth have thepower to stop crime and italso shows us that with hopeand trust your dreams cancome true. Secondly, it showsus that sitting around andpretending that everything isfine will not help. Rememberyou have your rights to besafe and to say no to violenceand this book supports therights and it reminds us thatwe have the right to say no.Thirdly, it shows patrioticchildren who are passionateabout their country. It alsoshows us that we as learnersare nothing without ourparents' support. This bookshows commitment andtrust.The best part of the storywas when the young manPaye and his friends wereprotesting against thegovernment. Paye was verylucky, they never gave upand the soldiers did not stopshooting at them. I think thatmany teenagers would likethis book, especially readerswho enjoy reading abouthistory and those who wantto study law after matric.The book is available at thepublic library and at school.It is published by Heinemannand the ISBN number is 0 43589361 0.Review by Athenkosi OfficeGrade 10Nombulelo High SchoolMAKANA MUNICIPALITYMUNICIPAL NOTICEREFUSE REMOVAL17 AND 27 APRIL 2009THIS EDITION OF UPSTART HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP OFTHE MAKANA MUNICIPALITYM