Rating: 
Summary: Bright Work or Boring Bummer?
Review: Great words. Wonderful plot. Awesome characterization. All of these things can be found in Mark Mathabanes exciting autobiography, Kaffir Boy. This autobiography combines the vileness of South African apartheid and one young lad?s struggle for freedom with astonishing results. Kaffir Boy takes an aggressive look into the wickedness of apartheid and the ravishing affects it can take on the future in an engaging manner that lures the reader into the plot.Within Kaffir Boy, the plot blossoms through magnificent character development, guided by Mark. The story is encapsulated within an autobiography format- as the characters grow, so does the plot- as shown when Mark first realizes apartheid, and the detrimental effect it has on black society. By showing this truth, the reader has the opportunity to look into the world of a black South African drowning in the havoc of apartheid. The honest viewpoint shared an unbiased hope of life that kept the reader hooked. Along with this, Mark and his family build on to the story with details from daily life and family tradition. It really opened up a new viewpoint of world cultures as I felt myself being drawn into the characters lives, struggles and achievements. The character development in Kaffir Boy was a flawless, exciting addition to this book. Along with character development, Mark's true life story unfurls through the plot a wicked twist on your feelings, emotions and beliefs that will make your morals shout out from the sidelines. The events in this book that I liked the least were the racism shown to the blacks in South Africa. The ways blacks were treated throughout this work really gave me a culture shock. Although the white's actions were horrible, Mark's actions and the persistent drive behind them shone like a candle in the night, as a hero in a sorrow filled world. The event that I liked the best was when Mark was freed of the bonds of apartheid through his talents and hard work, the theme was shown strongly through his actions and I admire his die-hard attitude. Also, the motif was very encouraging and kept me hooked. The plot of Kaffir Boy was exciting and will keep any reader thirsting for more. So is Kaffir Boy a bright work or boring bummer? I encourage you to read this fabulous book and decide for yourself. Kaffir Boy astonished me with new viewpoints and aspects within the menacing world of apartheid. Make sure you add this five- star choice to your bookshelf- Kaffir Boy.
Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary
Review: Kaffir Boy shows the brutal reality of apartheid in South Africa. This autobiography is not a sugar-coated version of life in the ghettos--it is explained in sharp detail. The miracle of Mark Mathabane's success is moving. His courage and strength will motivate you to overcome the obstacles in your own life. It is a story that will leave you astonished, angry, sad, tense, hopeful, and triumphant. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to become more aware of apartheid or anyone who wants to read and incredible story of a boy who refused to take the path before him and instead shaped his own destiny.
Rating: 
Summary: Propaganda tool aimed at ignorant Americans.
Review: According to the author, white South Africans all lived in mansions, drove Rolls-Royces and Mercedes, had herds of black servants treated worse than slaves, white children which had never seen black school children before etc etc. Mrs. Smith was buying for her son bicycles, roller blades, ping-pong tables and other stuff (all plural), which would requre storage space size of Walmart! Get real! I visited South Africa many times in 1970's, 80's and 90's and I can say that "Kaffir Boy" is another propaganda tool aimed at ignorant Americans. Author has his agenda, himself being the white-hater he is attempting to shape the public opinion in similar fashion.
He is suspended in vacuum between the dead end street of tribalism (whatever happened to "when we were kings" idea - in the book his fater and his tribe are morons), and the world built by the white people he is longing for and hating at the same time.
America of 1970's is shown as the promised land of equal opportunities for the blacks. It's 2003 now and the blacks still don't think so and there are cries for more affirmative action and never ending government handouts.
Love this book if you are a heart bleeding liberal, but if you have any common sense, frequent inconsistiencies should be easy to spot. No doubt that the policy of racial segregation in South Africa was wrong and cruel, but this book is not a true story it claims to be. It's a mix of truth, lies and imagined fiction. It's meant to be the author's revenge, just like Jerzy Kosinski's "Painted Bird", which at the time of it's publication was a believable and true story, until dismissed years later as bunch of lies and garbage.
Rating:
Summary: Brutally honest
Review: In an era of political correctness and overly sensitive focus groups, it is refreshing to read an honest rendition of a person's point of view. Mr. Mathabane has created a simple, honest and brutally accurate description of Apartheid South Africa. He pulls no punches in his descriptions of life in the townships of S.A. and you will finish this book with a heavy heart. Yet, he tells the story with such honesty and sincerity that you do not feel as though you have been to a political rally when you turn the final page. Very few books of this ilk manage to portray these sort of situations so accurately and with such plain language. As you read the book you are transported to his family's small shack and you feel the fear he felt when the 'sweeps' would take place. You can hear the angry cries of the mobs of children and feel the desperation that he must have felt. Despite the horrid conditions imposed by the government the positive side of human nature shines through. The goodness of some of the white community and their desire to help this young man makes a huge difference in his life. The author's positive attitude allows him to make the assertion that people as individuals are good at heart. The message that socialization, economic deprivation and government repression create evil in people shines through in this narrative. But the author's honesty and success shows that human perseverence and hope can overcome all obstacles.
Rating:
Summary: "Must-read" for everyone
Review: Mark Mathabane takes the reader inside his life and helps you to truly feel as he feels. Every member of the human family should experience this book.
Rating:
Summary: A moving book that you can't put down!
Review: This book was an amazing book. It shows you a part of the world that you never would think of. It is unreal what Mark went through. This book is a must bye, I recomend being over 13 though it has some graphic scenes. You will be dissapointed when it ends. Definite five stars! *****
Rating:
Summary: What we didn't know
Review: Mr. Mathabane makes a part of history something personal. I was criminally unaware of Apartheid, except in a vague sense, and Mr. Mathabane let me see it from the inside out. I don't think I'll look at things quite the same ever again. Kaffir Boy gave me a renewed appreciation for what I have, for what I can be, and for what I've been given.
Mathabane's style is eloquent in its simplicity, and stark without being vulgar, no matter how vulgar the situation.
The true worth of an author is to affect their reader. I defy anyone to read Kaffir Boy and not be affected. This is no light read, to be sure, not a bedtime story for the kiddies, but it is a lesson in history, a journey of the heart, and a saga of hope and faith. In total, it is an incredibly "human" work.
Rating: 
Summary: Undecided
Review: I had to read "Kaffir Boy" as part of my ninth grade reading list. My entire high school is reading it, which makes me think that, although some of the parts were a little nauseating, this book is worthwhile. It definitely gave me a better view of the horridness of apatheid, and it made me appreciate my life here in America where I can read anything I want to. I think every high school student should read this.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing
Review: I couldn't put Kaffir Boy down once I started reading it. It has depth to it, while being an easy read. There is a review by "a reader from dallas, tx", please pay no attention to that review, I am thinking it is either a joke, or the person who wrote it is indeed an adolescent.
You may be shocked by certain aspects of Mark's life, but they will open your eyes. Mark Mathabane is a hero in my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: Experience Apartheid as a Kaffir
Review: This book gives us what most books about South Africa and Apartheid do not -- a bottom-up perspective. View racially segregated and oppressed South Africa through the innocent eyes of black child. Moreover, view it from Soweto in 1985, when tensions were rising and conflict was at its worst. An inspiring story, and an important page in SA's history, from one boy who overcame!
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