cover image Child of the River

Child of the River

Irma Joubert. Thomas Nelson, $15.99 trade paper (416p) ISBN 978-0-7180-8310-6

Persomi is a sharecropper’s child living in South Africa during WWII. Working on the wealthy Fourie farm, Persomi desperately seeks to be like the “real” children who are able to live free lives in their own homes. Reading about the war and politics in the newspapers from the Big House keeps her mind off her poor circumstances. She is also consumed with figuring out the identity of her true father, a secret her mother has vowed to take to the grave. When Persomi has the chance to go to the same boarding school that her brother attended, she leaves the life she had always known for a place where she must learn new rules and practices—studying, socializing, even how to eat with a fork. Leaning on the strength of her friend Boelie, the son and heir of Mr. Fourie, Persomi excels in her education, studying law and politics. When the feelings between Persomi and Boelie grow, Persomi discovers information that shatters her world before she can even step into it. Joubert (The Girl from the Train) once again demonstrates a knack for stringing believable, interesting characters through a historical South African landscape. Not just a sweet romantic novel, Joubert’s book is a testament to the value of hard work and perseverance. (Oct.)