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Book Review By milkiwei
Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

This story is a great book about a young English boy growing up in a South Africa with racial discrimination. The boy, Peekay is discriminated against for being English by the Boers (Dutch), but is still strong and due to his genuis and boxing skills and strength comes to lead all the tribes of Africa. "First with the head and then with the heart, that's how a man stays ahead from the start." Hoppie Groenewald, advise that Peekay will carry with him through his life.

A great book, relative to Post Colonial Literature where you are able to see the effects of the colonization of Africa. The book is humurous and easy to read, extremely enjoyable for all. It is a story of a young boys dream to rise above discrimination and to fight for racial equality.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 1930's-1950's
Kids growing up/acting up? Yes
Ethnic/Regional/Religion
Strong "rags to riches" component? Yes
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes
Age group of kid(s) in story: - grade school
Something wrong upstairs/downstairs? - searching for identity/meaning
Parents/lack of parents problem?

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - a kid
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character:
Ethnicity/Nationality
Unusual characteristics:

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - a teen
Profession/status:
Has magical powers? Yes
Eccentric/Smart/Dumb: Yes
Eccentric:
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - below average

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 7 ()
Africa Yes
Kind of Africa: - Black Africa - White Enclave
Farm/Ranch? Yes
Farm/Ranch: - lot of descript of animal care
Small town? Yes
Small town people: - very gullible, like Gomer Pyle
Misc setting

Writing Style
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
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