Book Review

Title: My last Best Friend
Author: Mehboob Ali Wajoodeen
Reviewed by: Mehboob Ali Wajoodeen
Main Theme: Apartheid
Summary:
Freddy and Zulu are two gentlemen who saw each other after a long time and decided to catch up on their life events. Freddy is a white man who realized that Black people are not what they seem to be e.g. criminals. He was good friends with Zulu and their friendship started on the farm. Everyday they played with each other and got closer thinking that thier friendship will last forever. One day policemen came to raid the farm and they found that Zulu and his family were staying on a White person’s farm. Due to the Apartheid policy and their hatred for Blacks, they chased Zulu and his family to a black settlement, commonly known as Soweto. Zulu was very poor and he worked hard in a mining field. Eventually, freedom was prevailed in South Africa, spearheaded by a political leader known as Nelson Mandela. They are happy that their children don’t have to go through what they went through e.g. oppression.

Young author, Mehboob Ali, creates a marvelous setting to the story. He writes this book in such approach that readers would actually encounter a real life image and the moods created between characters are astonishing. The author often notifies the reader that apartheid rules oppressed blacks and other coloured skin groups therefore; a clear massage is set that blacks were frequently treated as slaves.

For me this book would attract more children to read as it unfolds the real story of apartheid and the choice of words are suited for ages 6-11. After reading this book, one would have a superb understanding of how people struggled and fought until freedom prevailed.
The massage is to remind the younger generation about our country’s history so that they don’t become ignorant. A frictional book that’s well prepared but with a factual storyline.