Another book in this coming year's OBOB season, Born A Crime is the autobiography of comedian Trevor Noah. Noah was born in South Africa of a White father and Black mother, which was an actual crime at that time and in that place. Born and raised in a system of legal racism called Apartheid, Born A Crime tells Noah's story of trying to exist between and among Blacks and Whites when he fell into neither category. Raised solely by his mother, he navigated childhood and teenage years like many kids do, but in a country that severely limited what certain people could and couldn't do based on their skin color. Sound familiar? The differences between where he and his mom could live, where they could go and when, what she could do for work, where he could go to school - every aspect of their lives was impacted by this terrible system of government, one that existed legally for about 50 years.
If you don't read many non-fiction books, including biographies, give this a try for something different. So much of what happens to Noah and his family will be difficult to believe, and then to think that he was able to rise out of that life and become the success that he is today is simply amazing! This book reminds me a bit of Hole In My Life, the autobiography of Jack Gantos (author of the Joey Pigza series), which is also incredible once you read his story of where he came from and where he was able to land.
Another really good OBOB for the coming year...a tail wag for that! And 4 paws for this book!
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