Beverley Naidoo was brought up a ‘Jo’burg girl’ in South Africa under apartheid laws. She went to a whites-only school as a child and only had the chance to explore the world she was living in after leaving school and as a student.Naidoo was arrested at 21 for taking part in a resistance movement. Her writing began years later in exile in England and her first book, ‘Journey to Jo’burg’, was banned in South Africa.

Naidoo has always loved stories and describes books as ‘windows to other worlds’. In her stories, she has explored the theme of apartheid and post-apartheid, and with her writing, Naidoo challenges ‘narrow ways of seeing’:  ‘We read what we are’ or ‘we are what we read’? As readers, we come to books not as culturally neutral, but with ready-made lenses. Yet the claim is made that books can sometimes change our ways of seeing.’

Her stories are carefully researched and they are strongly influenced by her childhood and surroundings.

Naidoo has received a number of awards for her writing and has received valuable responses from young readers:

‘Why shouldn’t young people learn what is really happening on Earth? The quicker we learn the more intelligent and strong willing we shall become. That way we can make peace.’

Buy books by Beverley Naidoo online

Click on the covers of the books to purchase them from the online bookstore, Amazon.co.uk.

Writers in schools

If you would like Beverley to come to your school, contact Barbara on 020 8767 4551 or info@childrensdiscovery.org.uk.