About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling to reconcile their family's traditional values with the pressures of a modern, fast-paced world. Set against the backdrop of Namibia's transition to independence, the story follows Be, a young Ju/'hoansi Bushman woman, as she navigates the painful friction between her ancestral desert life and the harsh realities of working on a commercial farm. It is a profound exploration of identity and cultural survival that validates the feeling of being caught between two worlds. While the story addresses heavy themes of displacement and systemic injustice, it is ultimately a journey toward self-possession and resilience. Parents will appreciate how it handles the complexities of political change and personal autonomy with grace and nuance. It is an ideal choice for adolescents who are developing their social conscience and looking for stories that reflect the difficult but necessary work of honoring one's heritage while forging a new path forward.
