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.
Beverley 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.
Beverley 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. Beverley 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.’  Book List - Beverley Naidoo
In Journey to Jo’burg, Naledi knows that her little sister Dineo might die soon, like many other babies in the village. But without money, nobody can help. Naledi knows she has to find Mma who works 300km away in Johannesburg. So together with her brother Tiro, she gets to the big road and starts walking.
In Chain of Fire, Naidoo presents South Africa under apartheid and the government is removing black people from the villages to so-called ‘homelands’. Naledi and Tiro discover they are in trouble when they find a number painted on the door of their house. But they keep on fighting. In No turning back, twelve-year-old Sipho heads to Johannesburg to escape from his violent father. He has to learn whom to trust amongst street children and find his own future. The Other side of Truth is a story about two young people who become refugees. Nigeria is in chaos and two siblings flee to England where they believe they will be safe.
Out of bounds is a collection of dramatic stories about living under apartheid, a touching collection about young people who make choices and about the hope for a new rainbow country.Web of Lies tells the story of the boy Femi who gets more and more wrapped up in gang life and starts lying to his family. Whilst his father is waiting to hear if the family has been granted asylum in Britain, Femi’s situation spirals out of control and he starts to tell the truth. Will this jeopardise his family?
In Burn my Heart, Mathew and Mugo live on the same Kenyan land during times when white means rich and black means poor and a secret society, called the Mau Mau, want their freedom back.
Picture BooksLetang’s new friend: Letang is sad during her first days at school in England but this is overcome when she meets Julie, a girl who uses a wheelchair and by the excitement of snow.

Letang and Julie save the day: Together, the girls help their class when something unexpected happens on a summer outing.
Trouble for Letang and Julie: The girls take on the task of looking after the class hamster. But Nibbles escapes from the cage…
Where is Zami? : Zami’s teacher worries when Zami suddenly stops coming to school. Rosa plays detective. This is a story about bullying.
Baba’s Gift: Themba and Lindi enjoy a lovely day at the beach, playing with friends and sailing their boat. But when it’s time to go home, the boat is gone. What will Baba say?

The great Tug of War: This is the story about the cunning Hare Mmutla who is always one step ahead…

Anthologies and Education

Free as I know is a multicultural collection of short stories, extracts and poems about young people.
This volume of tales contains sixteen stories by new and internationally-known writers. A variety of settings, characters, contexts and themes is introduced in these accessible and enriching tales.
Through Whose Eyes? explores universal issues in a way which is accessible to students and offers a variety of activities and suggestions for teaching.
Plays

The Playground is Naidoo’s first stage play and she decided to go to South Africa to develop it. It has been performed at the Polka theatre in Wimbledon.