Waiting for the Rain (1987) by Sheila Gordon is a poignant novel set during apartheid in South Africa. It tells the story of two boys—Tengo, a black Afrikaner, and Frikkie, a white Afrikaner—whose friendship is shaped by the oppressive racial system. As Tengo grows, he becomes increasingly aware of the inequities between their lives, from education to basic rights. Despite the barriers, he is determined to fight for equality through education. The novel explores themes of friendship, racial injustice, and the complexities of identity. As the boys mature, their paths diverge, with Tengo embracing activism and eventually immigrating to America to pursue his studies. The novel poignantly culminates in a confrontation between the two men, now on opposite sides of the apartheid divide, where they part ways without violence, each shaped by their experiences. The book won the 1987 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award for its focus on social justice.
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