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2010 M-Net and Via Afrika Literary Award Winners
by Nonikiwe - Editor on 25 Aug 2010 |
The M.E.R. Prize was established in 1983 and is awarded annually by M-Net and Via Afrika in two distinct categories. A prize is awarded to the best illustrated children’s book and another to the best youth novel published during the previous year. The only condition is that the books must be aimed at younger readers and that the authors and illustrators must be South African citizens. The award is named after MER (Mimie E. Rothmann 1875-1975), for her groundbreaking work in the field of children’s literature. No distinction is made between English and Afrikaans books.
2010 M-Net/Via Afrika Literary Award Winners – MER Prizes
The M.E.R Prize for best youth novel – The Bird of Heaven
The M.E.R Prize for best illustrated children’s book – In the Never-ever Wood
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MER Prize Winner for Youth LiteratureAn explorer of inner and outer spaces, the author Peter Dunseith lives in the magical Umbuluzi valley in the Kingdom of Swaziland. After practising for thirty years as a human rights lawyer and champion of the underdog, and a three year stint as the judge president of the Industrial Court of Swaziland, he has recently embarked on a new career in alternative medicine. His first novel The Bird of Heaven reveals his fascination with the myths and rituals that denote the cultural soul of the Swazi people.
Young Adult Fiction
Writer: Peter Dunseith
Publisher by Tafelberg Publishers in 2009
The plot follows the training and growth in power of Mandla, son of Ingwe.
Although it is superficially a fantasy adventure with some magic realism thrown in, it also deals with archetypes representing the struggle between innocence and corruption; transition from boyhood to manhood; the relationship between a boy and his distant father (a leopard in the body of a man); self-empowerment through the gifts of our ancestors (the muti bag); and the transcendent victory of a noble spirit (the lightning bird).
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MER Prize Winners for Illustrated Children’s Literature
Linda Rode was born on 3 July 1937 at Ladismith, Western Cape.
She matriculated at the Hoërskool Langenhoven in Riversdal in 1954 and
studied at Stellenbosch University, where she obtained an Honours degree in German and a Teacher’s Diploma (1963).
a-Bird-3.jpgShe taught school in Calvinia, in Hermannsburg, at the Pionierskool in Worcester (school for the blind) and at Herzlia in Cape Town and works as a free-lance translator for publishers.
Linda is married to Erwin Rode. They live in Bellville and have two children. 1989: MER Prize for Goue fluit, my storie is uit and Tienie Holloway – medal
Goue Lint, My Storie Begint: Voorleesverhale En Verse Vir KleintjiesFiona Moodie was born in Cape Town on 6th May, 1952. She grew up on an apple farm in Elgin . She obtained a BA degree from UCT in 1971 and later a Secondary Teacher’s Diploma from the same university.
After university Fiona left South Africa for Europe. She taught English in Madrid and travelled in Greece, living for a while in an uninhabited monastery on the island of Siphnos and drawing.
She had always wanted to write and illustrate children’s books and with her parents’ support she was able to attend the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris (1975). By chance in Paris she met an Austrian book illustrator who advised her to go to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair with a portfolio of work. At Bologna she met several encouraging editors and many European illustrators. As a result in 1976 she began living outside a small village called Rugolo in Northern Italy, in the farm house of the Czech film animator and illustrator Stephan Zavrel. His home was an open house for artists who came to stay and work for various periods. There Fiona Moodie learned about illustrating and making books and has illustrating children’s books ever since.
In the Never-ever Wood
Retold by Linda Rode
Illustrated by Fiona Moodie
Published by Tafelberg Publishers in 2009
Here are sixty stories, selected and retold by fairy-tale lover and compiler of children’s books Linda Rode.
It is a comprehensive collection that will open up the wide, wide world of fairy tales and other folklore to children.
A short annotation at the end of each story points out the land of origin and puts the stories from Africa, Europe, the East and other parts of the world in context with one another.Fiona Moodie’s evocative illustrations are drypoint etches printed by hand and painted afterwards – an intricate process that took more than two years to complete.
(English translation by Elsa Silke)
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Invitation to nominate books published in 2008 and 2009 for the Katrine Harries Award
The Katrine Harries Award that originally was the only and most prestigious award in South Africa for children’s book illustrations, and that has been dormant for the past six years, will soon be awarded again. The award that was made for the first time in the early 1960’s by the SA Library Association and later the South African Institute for Library and Information Science (SAILIS) has been awarded to South Africa’ s most well-known illustrators: Katrine Harries personally received the award twice before it was named after her. Thereafter Niki Daly, Joan Rankin, Alida Bothma, Cora Coetzee, Jeremy Grimsdell (and others) have received it with Emily Bornhoff finally receiving it in 2008.
All publishers, illustrators and other interested parties are invited to nominate books published in 2008 and 2009.
Please send your nominations asap to: Thomas van der Walt, Children’s Literature Research Unit, UNISA – vdwaltb@unisa.ac.za
Book details
- The Bird of Heaven by Peter Dunseith
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EAN: 9780624045571
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- In the Never-Ever Wood by Linda Rode, illustrated by Fiona Moodie
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EAN: 9780624047681
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- The Bird of Heaven by Peter Dunseith
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Peter Martin Reviews A Uniquely South African Story
by Bontle on 11 Aug 2010 |
My Name is Vaselinetjie by Anoeschka von MeckThis is a funny and somewhat violent tale about Northern Cape teenager Helena Bosman, who is sent to a children’s home in faraway Gauteng. She insists that everyone calls her by her nickname, Vaselinetjie, and she lives with her Ouma and Oupa, but welfare officers insist she has to go to the home, and the adventures begin.
Translated from the Afrikaans best-seller and loosely based on real-life characters, the story is filled with Afrikaans slang words (which are explained at the end of the book). The reader meets all Vaselinetjie’s schoolmates – some are friendly and nice to her, but most are exactly the opposite. Nicknames abound – Killer, Pizzaface, Puck, Albie, Kitkat – and those are just the girls, which gives the reader an idea of the type of children Helena had to mix with.
Vaseline (as she became known) takes some time to settle down in her new surroundings and it’s not too long before she has to be on the alert and watch her back.
Book details
- My Name is Vaselinetjie by Anoeschka von Meck
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EAN: 9780624046585
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- My Name is Vaselinetjie by Anoeschka von Meck
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Kule Veki isiXhosa Sifundela Ulutsha
by Bontle on 21 Jul 2010 |
Lo mdlalo ungothando phakathi kwababini, ulonwabo nobunzima basemhlabeni. Umbhali uyasibonisa ngokuphandle ukuba ukuzicingela wedwa nokunyoluka kuyatshabalalisa. Ukwaphinde asibonise ukuba umoya womntu uyakwazi ukuphumelela naxa ubomi buneendzingo.
This well-loved author demonstrates for us that selfishness and greed are ultimately pointless and self-destructive, while at the same time proving that the human spirit can triumph through the harshest of life’s experiences.
Yet another Xhosa classic from the pen of W.K. Tamsanqa, this riveting historical novel is about hope, striving, suffering and triumph, and will absorb readers from the very first page.
Kwakhona nabu obunye ubuchule bencwadi yesixhosa esuka kusiba lwesandla sika WK Tamsanqa, le noveli esibuyisela emva ngembhali imalunga nethemba, inzame, intlupheko kunye nempumelelo, kwaye iyakutsala abafundi kwakwiphepha nje lokuqala. Iindlela ezenzekayo zolwazi kunye nembali yexabiso yale noveli yenza ukuba ibenesiseko ekufundeni kubo bonke abafundi kunye nokubalasela kokuzikhethela kwoncwadi kwizikolo.
Book details
- Kusa Kusihlwa: Inoveli namanqakwana by KS Bongela
EAN: 9780636072961
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- Nyana wam! Nyana wam! by WK Tamsanqa
EAN: 9780636072978
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- Kusa Kusihlwa: Inoveli namanqakwana by KS Bongela
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Boy vs Girl Author Talks About her New Book and Writing for Teens
by Bontle on 21 Jul 2010 |
Na’ima B. Robert is a South African Muslim woman and writer. She’s descended from the Scottish Highlanders on her father’s side and the Zulu people on her mother’s side and grew up in Zimbabwe. Coming from a rich and mixed background lead her to be interested in culture and the perceptions of Islam and Muslim culture.Her new book, Boy vs Girl was inspired when Robert became interested in “seeing the double standards between how boys are raised and how girls are raised, for example, boys going out at night and no one questioning them as to where they’re going and with whom, whereas with girls, they need to have a chaperone.” In an interview with Robert, she talks candidly about writing for young people and the challenges of being a young Muslim in a modern world.
Boy vs. Girl touches on some very sensitive issues, such as gang culture and drugs. Do you think that Muslims who are involved in gangs themselves would want to pick up a copy of this book?
I’m not quite sure. It depends on how much they read.
This book is a way of flagging up to the older generations that their sons are not safe out there. Faraz is vulnerable and his parents don’t know about his passion for art and his unsuitable friends. Teenagers lead a double life and parents are completely clueless about it.
Book details
- Boy vs Girl by Na’ima bint Robert
EAN: 9781847800053
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- Boy vs Girl by Na’ima bint Robert
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Remembering Green in the Year 2250
by Bontle on 14 Jul 2010 |
Remembering Green by Lesley BeakeRemembering Green by South African writer Lesley Beake is a futuristic novel set in South Africa in the year 2250. In the future, climate change has gone from being a distance threat to a frightening reality as the world’s ice caps have melted and the sea level has risen. Cape Town has disappeared under the ocean, resulting in Table Mountain now being an island. The Tekkies live on the island, using 23rd century technology to keep their civilization in tact. Now, their resources are running out and they’ll do whatever they have to to hold onto their way of life – including kidnapping the princess of the River People.
This is a beautiful and powerful story, uniquely African as it is universal, and teaching a lesson that we all need to learn before it’s too late.
Book details
- Remembering Green by Lesley Beake
Ages 11 to 14
EAN: 9781845079628
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- Remembering Green by Lesley Beake
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Deadline for Percy FitzPatrick Award for Youth Literature Approaches
by Bontle on 25 May 2010 |
The deadline for entries for English Academy literary award, The Percy FitzPatrick Award for Youth Literature, is fast-approaching. The Percy FitzPatrick Award for Youth literature, awarded in alternate years, is aimed at encouraging the publication of books directed towards children between the ages of 10 and 14.This year’s deadline is May 31st. For further information the administrative officer can be contacted at 011 717 9339 or at englishacademy@ societies.wits.ac.za
The English Academy of Southern Africa was founded in 1961. It is an association dedicated to promoting the effective use of English as a dynamic language in Southern Africa.
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Literacy takes Centre Stage at World Summit on Media for Children and Youth
by Bontle on 25 Mar 2010 |
World Summit on Media for Children and Youth in Karlstad Sweden 2010, will be a summit for 1500 delegates from 80 countries preparing children and youth for a new media world in the 21st century. It will offer great opportunities to network, to be part of debates, to be interactive and to be part of workshops to share different perspectives, experiences and expertise. The World Summit in Karlstad will be one of the most important meeting place in 2010. WORLD SUMMIT 2010 WANTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO
• Supporting teachers and recreation instructors so they can progress from an outsider position to involvement in the media and information society.• Providing a scientific basis for media training.
• Giving the decision-makers access to findings from the world of research as a basis for their decisions.
• Giving the media industry increased knowledge of modern research to be used in developing production and distribution.
• Giving decision-makers insight into the role of the media industry and the prerequisites for producing and distributing high-quality content for children and young people.
• Improving the status and availability of media education.
• Increasing children’s and young people’s involvement in and influence on media content.
• Helping children and young people make demands that will lead to better teaching about and involving the media.
• Create and develop an increased dialogue between the media production and content creation, media education and educators, media research and policy-making and children and youth participation in the media.
Speakers from Africa include:
Amanuel Teferi Mamo of Plan International Ethiopia, Ethiopia
Firdoze Bulbulia of Moments Entertainment, CIFEJ, South Africa
Julieta Langa of Educardo Mondlane University – UEM, Mozambique“Freedom is not free”
Presented by Futhi Ngubane, SABC:Education, South Africa (Read her bio)
This topic will look at the importance of democracy and human rights. Even with most democratic States / Countries human rights are still being violated. It is critical to find out from different countries how they are delivering on human rights; What are the key issues that lead to the violation of rights? e.g. traditions, cultures and the way of life etc. What is the youth's views on democracracy and rights? What is their understanding and interpretation democracy, human rights and responsibility? What role should media play in advocating for human rights? (Sharing of media material) Symbolic artwork of signatures (footprint on white sheet ) as a commitment towards respecting human rights and democracy.
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Leesplesier vir van Kleuters tot Tieners deur Karen Ebersohn
by Bontle on 25 Mar 2010 |
PRINSES MOSSIENES en DRIE HOERA’S VIR DENVER! deur Wendy Maartens en illustrasies deur Alida Botma.
Albei hierdie boeke behandel onaangename situasies waaraan kinders blootgestel word: In Prinses Mossienes is dit egskeiding en in Drie Hoera’s vir Denver molestering.
Saam met Dina en Denver ervaar ons die pyn en verwarring wat kinders in sulke situasies ondervind. Die verhaal werk deur die hele proses van hartseer, skaamte, erkenning en genesing.
PHAPO SE GESKENK deur Marita van Aswegen. Illustrasies deur Fanie Viljoen.
Phapo is ’n mooi, slim meisie op die rand van puberteit. Sy woon saam met haar ouma en pa in ’n landelike gebied. Haar ma is dood toe sy gebore is en haar pa is sterwend aan vigs. Sy wil nog speel, maar haar maats stel net in verhoudings belang. Maar haar ouma leer haar ’n belangrike lewensles uit die ou Sotho-kultuur hieroor. ’n Mooi vriendskapsband ontwikkel ook tussen haar en Lucy.
BEWAAR ONS PLANEET deur Martyn Bramwell en andere.
“Mense is merkwaardige diere. Ons kan met mekaar praat en ons kan die wereld om ons verander. Nietemin is daar dinge waarmee ons nie so goed is nie. Een daarvan is dat ons te groot lewe.”
Só lui die inleiding van Bewaar ons planeet waarin die mens se geweldige aanslag op die aarde en sy hulpbronne bespreek word. Daarna volg vier afdelings, Aarde, Water, Diere en Voedsel, waaronder verskeie bewaringskwessies bespreek word. Baie oulik is ook die aksieplan met wenke wat by byna elke tema verskyn. Pragtige volkleurfoto’s verbreed ook die inligting en prikkel die jong lesers se verbeelding.
VANG DIE MONSTER deur Norbert Landa. Illustrasies deur Tim Warnes.
Die uitdrukking lui om van ’n molshoop ’n berg te maak, maar in die oulike storie maak Eend se vriende van ’n muis ’n monster. Eend roep om hulp wanneer sy ’n vreemde geluid onder haar bed hoor en elkeen wat kom help, las ’n stertjie by die storie wat die diere al hoe banger maak. Die aanlas-storie met sy verrassende einde en oulike illustrasies is pure pret vir kleuters.
MOTORS, TROKKE EN ALLES WAT RY en MY EERSTE BOEK VAN ALLES! deur Richard Scarry.
Richard Scarry het die kuns vervolmaak om leer groot pret te maak. Sy boeke is ’n bombardement van kleur, karakters en woorde, maar dit kan ’n kind ure lank besig hou. Motors, trokke en alles wat ry gaan die Oink-gesin op reis en sien van brandweerwaens tot padmaakmasjiene en motors met vreemde vorms soos die muis-gesin se kaaswiggiemotor. Tussendeur kan jy na Goudgogga soek en kyk of Sersant Flossie die wilde Dingo gevang kry om vir hom ’n parkeerkaartjie te gee.
DIE KNAL-LEKKERSTE WETENSKAPBOEK IN DIE HEELAL: DEUR DIE SLIMKOPPIES deur Claire Watts en HOE BYNA ALLES UITGEVIND IS: DEUR DIE BRAINWAVES deur Jilly Macleod.
Die Slimkoppies-strokieskarakters (Brainwaves in Engels) is die handelsmerk van die illustreerders Lisa Swerling en Ralph Lazar en Claire Watts verskaf die woorde vir die reeks boeke. Die Slimkoppies het al in die menslike liggaam rondgereis, die planeet deurkruis en nou wys hulle hoe die wetenskap lyk en hoe dinge uitgevind is. Die knal-lekkerste wetenskapboek se agterblad sê “dit is ’n ontploffing van wetenskaplike lawwigheid.” Laf of nie, hierdie boeke is gepak met inligting oor die wetenskap.
GEHEIME OP KEURBOSLAAN deur Theunis Krog.
Berrie Serfontein is in die moeilikheid. In ’n fluistergesprek wat hy toevallig hoor, dreig ’n vreemde besoeker met ’n Amerikaanse aksent om geheime uit sy pa se verlede bekend te maak. Berrie besluit om sy pa te beskerm – hoe weet hy nie.
Die klassieke Keurboslaan-reeks is steeds gewild en die moeite werd.
MEISIES SE DINGE: OPBLAASBRA’S deur Cathy Hopkins.
Lucy is veertien jaar oud, maar sy lyk twaalf jaar oud. Haar beste vriendinne, Izzie en Nesta, kan deurgaan vir sestien jaar. Dit voel vir Lucy asof alles om haar verander. Almal behalwe sy weet al wie hulle is en wat hulle eendag wil word. Dit laat haar in ’n stadium uitroep: “Dit voel net of niks rêrig pas nie… Ek pas ook nêrens in nie!”
Hierdie boek is ’n roman oor tienerwees, maar bied op ’n vars manier raad oor grootword vir meisies. Ná sommige hoofstukke is daar bv. engelkaarte met inspirerende gedagtes. Die oorsprong van die engelkaarte is deel van die verhaal, so ook die lysies met wenke soos hoe om die ander geslag se aandag te trek wat elkeen van die drie hoofkarakters opstel.
GLORIOUS GALUMPIOUS STORY COLLECTION deur Roald Dahl.
“I am totally convinced that most grown-ups have completely forgotten what it is like to be a child be-tween the ages of five and ten… I can remember exactly what it was like. I am certain I can,” word Roald Dahl agterin een van die boeke in die versameling aangehaal. As jy of jou kinders nog nie kennis gemaak het met Roald Dahl nie, moenie die versameling van vyf van sy kinderboeke misloop nie. Dahl verstaan ’n kind se kop en sy aweregse humor sal Ma en Pa ook laat grinnik.
SWEEF EN ANDER VERHALE.
Sweef en ander verhale is ’n splinternuwe kortverhaalbundel uit die pen van 25 uiteenlopende skrywers. Van hulle is bekende jeugboekskrywers soos Martie Preller, Leon de Villiers, Jaco Jacobs, Zulfah Otto-Sallies en Fanie Viljoen tot nuwe stemme soos Marietjie Vos en Christo Davids (Errol van 7de Laan). Davids se verhaal oor ’n jong seun se worsteling met sy pa wat hom weggegooi het, het baie beïndruk.
Al die verhale in Sweef het een ding gemeen – dit is gemik op tieners en hul belewenis van die wêreld, hul emosies, hul vrese en natuurlik hul ervaring van die liefde en die lyflike.
Die stories handel oor hedendaagse kwessies waarmee tieners te doen het, hoe hul daarop reageer en die gevolge van hul optrede. Soos egskeiding van ouers, teleurstelling van vriende wat ’n mens in die steek laat, hoërskool wat vir sommiges nie lekker is nie, Mxit en tegnologiese vooruitgang en vrees vir die onbekende.Book details
- Prinses Mossienes by Wendy Maartens, illustrated by Alida Botma
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EAN: 9800799345308
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- Vang Die Monster by Norbet Landa, Tim Warnes
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EAN: 9780799345261
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- Phapo se Geskenk by Marita van Aswegen, illustrated by Fanie Viljoen
EAN: 9780620457255
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- Motors, Trokke En Alles Wat Ry by Richard Scarry
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EAN: 9781869193348
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- My Eerste Boek Van Alles by Richard Scarry
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EAN: 9781869193355
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- Die knal-lekkerste wetenskapboek in die heelal: deur Die Slimkoppies by Claire Watts, Liza Swerling, Ralph Lazar
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EAN: 9780798151238
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- Hoe Byna Alles Uitgevind Is by Die Brainwaves
EAN: 9780981407500
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- Geheime Op Keurboslaan: Boek 8 by Theunis Krogh
EAN: 9780798150217
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- Meisies Se Dinge by Cathy Hopkins
EAN: 9781920335007
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- Roald Dahl’s Glorious Galumptious Story Collection by Roald Dahl
EAN: 9780141329291
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- Sweef En Ander Verhale by Adinda Vermaak, illustrated by Marieta Nel
Age range 13-16
EAN: 9780799345520
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- Bewaar Ons Planeet by Martyn Bramwell, illustrated by James Crackell
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EAN: 9780799345452
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- Prinses Mossienes by Wendy Maartens, illustrated by Alida Botma
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Grabouw Teen Publishes Romance Fantasy Book
by Bontle on 23 Mar 2010 |
Teen writer Monique Hollis had just turned 13 when she decided to write a book. In just over a year, at 14, she finished her first novel. Monique’s book was self-published and this process is more challenging than most people think. After selling hotdogs and ice creams to raise the R5000 needed to publish her book, Monique, of Grabouw, launched her book Fire and Ice last week“It took me all by surprise – finishing the book, getting it published. The launch was the best feeling I’ve ever had in my entire life,” Monique said. There has been criticism; especially from those who think Monique is just ‘ copying’ the best-selling formula of the Twilight series. Monique is a fan of the books but maintains that her story is original.
Fire and Ice is a romance with a fair share of fantasy. It tells the story of Natasha, a teenager who is torn between two loves.
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Dr Jan Van Elfen Enlightens the Boys this Time in What Every Boy Should Know
by Nonikiwe - Editor on 04 Mar 2010 |
Boys also go through various issues as they approach their teens, so in another book titled What Every Boy Should Know, Dr Jan Van Elfen delves into some of these issues. This familiar and trusted guide for teenagers has now been updated for the new century. It provides answers to all the questions teenagers find too awkward to ask. Here teenagers will find clear and comprehensive information on subjects such as love, adolescence, relationships, sexually transmitted diseases and bodily changes.
- What Every Boy Should Know by Jan Van Elfen
EAN: 9780624048619
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- What Every Boy Should Know by Jan Van Elfen
- Events Calendar
- PUKU Chat Latest
August 27, 2010, 3:31 pm
Coin is reading 1984 by George Orwell
August 27, 2010, 3:21 pm
Coin on Bontle is reading A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee WilliamsHow did you find it?
August 10, 2010, 9:31 am
Nonikiwe - Editor is reading The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
July 26, 2010, 3:11 pm
Bontle is reading A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
June 2, 2010, 10:53 am
Bontle is reading The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
May 18, 2010, 12:26 pm
Nonikiwe - Editor is reading The Fabulous Mum's Handbook by Grace Saunders
May 18, 2010, 10:50 am
Bontle is reading The Secret History by Donna Tartt
May 18, 2010, 10:50 am
Bontle is reading The Secret History by Donna Tartt
May 12, 2010, 11:33 am
Nonikiwe - Editor is reading Fanyana Talks to the Animals by Harry Cronje
April 28, 2010, 11:34 am
Nonikiwe - Editor is reading Thandiwe's Choice by Mari Grobler
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