The Power of One

Rating:
Summary: A Story of Courage and Strength-A+!!
Review: This is the first I have ever read of Courtenay's writing, and I did enjoy the story all the way through.

It takes place in Africa, back in 1939. A boy Peekay, as he was later called was an english child. The story begins with Peekay being taken from his dear nanny, as his mother was unable to care for him, and he was sent to a boarding school. There he was considered not "one of them," the African's that is, so he was bullied almost to death, and picked on for everything. After about 2 years there, he was sent back home to his mother who had recovered. Before that, during the trip home, he meets a friend, Hoppy, who cares for the boy and was like his big brother during the whole trip. Hoppy was a boxing champion, and it was such that he struck an interest with Peekay in boxing, and from there on when he met Hoppy, he just had to learn. Hoppy thought Peekay was a natural, and truly encouraged him in the short time they had together.

When he reaches home, he goes out one day to meet a new friend
that would always be there for him for the next many years of Peekay's life. "Doc," as he was called was an older established professor of music who was retired in the story. He latched on to the boy right away, and was like a father to Peekay. One day though, Doc was sent to prison much to the shock of many others, and Peekay was devastated. But within a short time, he connected with "Doc," in jail and not only did Peekay visit Doc, but the other prisoners became his greatest of friends. This is also where he learned the real sport of boxing. The prison offered classes in it, and Peekay was accepted even though he was too young, (about 8 at the time), they accepted him as he was overly eager to learn.

This started a whole new life for Peekay. He beat everyone in the ring, even some of the toughest men. He grew with boxing into bigger and bigger tournaments, and later when he started a new boarding school, was the most well-known kid there for his outstanding talents as a boxer. His new friend Morrie became his partner in business, and later they hired the best teacher Solly, who was the BEST in the boxing division in Africa.

The book is definitely a great read, and a story you won't
forget after reading. I will probably try Tandia later.

Rating:
Summary: Magtig! Wonderlik!
Review: This Power of One is one powerful book!

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay is an inspiring story of a young English boy who grows up in South Africa experiencing the very worst of the race and class struggles infesting South Africa around the time of the second World War. His first hand experiences take him on a journey to discover a powerful and motivational force within himself that enables him to not only survive, but influence, this oppresive environment.

Not very often has a book moved me in such a way. I felt swells of emotion throughout this book. There is something familiar and satisfying about rooting for a young child to figure out how to "beat the system" and outsmart the dictative and oppressive adult world. Very similar in style to the wildly popular science fiction novel "Ender's Game" which I highly recommend to those who loved this book.

Courteney's seemingly effortless writing style flows so smoothly that you may never find yourself have to re-read one line of this book. It travels forward with a good pace and has many climactic moments interspersed along the way.

I highly recommend this book to all.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: When a summer reading book is assigned to a group of ninth graders, inevitably numerous groans and rolling eyes will be found throughout the room. My class was no different in this respect. The next year, though, on the first day of English when asked what we had thought of the novel, rather than the usual silence and shifting eyes that greets such a question, multiple hands shot into the air. Girls and boys had actually read and, even more shocking, loved the summer reading book. Since that time, multiple members of my class, including myself, have read this book time and again, and it has become a favorite throughout the school. Filled with love, relationships, cacti, apartheid, and boxing, Courtenay blends numerous themes together in order to create a moving coming of age story about a young boy growing up in a South Africa torn with strife around the time of World War II. The novel evokes numerous reactions in the reader but through it all remains uplifting. Good for the heart, mind, and soul, this book will leave you completely satisfied.