A powerful novel by Carnegie Medal-winning author Beverley Naidoo that is in turns heart-wrenching, infuriating, and inspiring--and at its core, a call to readers to make a better world than they have found. Adam and his sister, Leila, are Nons--second-class citizens, living under the Permitted ruling class. Though their life in the Stone City is filled with family, stories, and music, they must carefully follow the rules, have all paperwork on hand, and never, ever do anything to anger a Permitted. When their father unexpectedly dies, they are even restricted in how they are allowed to grieve. Soon, Adam and Leila are back to school and practicing music again. But when Adam's friend Zak plays a bold prank on a group of Permitted boys, and Adam is implicated in Zak's "crime," Adam knows their lives will never be the same again. Not to be missed by any reader who was moved by Veera Hiranandani's The Night Diary or Alan Gratz's Refugee.

A classic look at prejudice and racism in apartheid South Africa, this short and compelling novel is perfect for independent reading projects and classroom sharing. Separated from their mother by the harsh social and economic conditions prevalent among blacks in South Africa, thirteen-year-old Naledi and her younger brother make a journey over 300 kilometers to find her in Johannesburg. Mma lives and works in Johannesburg, far from the village Naledi and Tiro call home. When their baby sister suddenly becomes very sick, Naledi and Tiro know, deep down, that only one person can save her. Bravely, alone, they set off on a journey to find Mma and bring her back. It isn't until they reach the city that they come to understand the dangers of their country, and the painful struggle for freedom and dignity that is taking place all around them.