Aktuelles Archiv

“Born a crime” is a #1 New York Times bestseller written by Trevor Noah and published in 2016. The author is a famous South African comedian and the host of the Daily Show on Comedy Central. This novel is an autobiography about the writer’s South African childhood under apartheid. The Cosmopolitan calls it “mind-blowing” praising the book for its content and writing style. Besides, it has been well-received by The Washington Post, People Magazine, and The Enquirer among others.

The main characters of the novel are Trevor and his mother living in a suburb of Johannesburg. Since the protagonist’s father is a white man from Switzerland and his mother is a black South African, he has got semi-colored skin. Due to the forbiddance of relationships between races under apartheid, his skin is considered the evidence of a crime. Until the age of six, he has to hide indoors, so the police cannot get hold of him. Even after Apartheid is abandoned, he still does not get accepted, neither by black nor white people in South Africa. During his childhood Trevor has to face murder, gang criminality, and civil war. This book tells the incredible story of his journey.

Set in the 1990s of South Africa, the novel allows you to find out more about an important period in the history of racial discrimination. Moreover, due to Trevor’s detailed anecdotes, picturing the surroundings is easy.

We strongly recommend “Born a crime” to every reader from the age of thirteen. Both, historical elements and comedy, make this wonderful and interesting memoir a perfect blend.

Isabella (15), Matilda (15)