Lesley Beake: 7 books

Khwezi idolises Lucas Radebe and keeps photos and news clippings of him in a scrapbook. After her uncle buys her a computer she uses the Internet to search for more information about her favourite soccer star. This is the story of Khwezi's quest to find out more about the life of one of South Africa's greatest ever soccer players.

‘This isn’t the one I want! This one is the smallest – the runt of the litter! We need the bravest and best – the champion!’ Jim stopped smiling and frowned at Fitz. ‘Don’t look at his size! It’s what’s in here that counts! And here!’ said Jim, pointing to his head and then his...

“Dis nie die een wat ek wil hê nie! Hierdie is dan die kleinste enetjie – die klein nikswerd in die werpsel! Ons het die beste en die dapperste hondjie nodig – die kampioen!” Jim se glimlag verdwyn en hy kyk fronsend na Fitz. “Moenie na sy grootte kyk nie! Dis hier binne!” sê Jim, hy...

Mabhuti lives in the Cape and loves watching Bafana Bafana, especially his favourite player, Steven Pienaar. He dreams of one day also playing for the national team so he starts a training diary to help him reach his goal. Along the way he learns more about the life of his hero and all the hard work that goes into being a professional soccer player.

Lucy, a 16-year-old girl from New York, is recovering from a recent traumatic experience. She joins her father at the fictional Barclay Bay, on South Africa's west coast, where she slowly makes sense of her ordeal. But Lucy cannot help but also be affected by the characters around her, including that...

Be, a young Bushman woman searching in the desert for the peace she remembers from her childhood, realizes that she and her people must reconcile new personal and political realities with ancient traditions.

Our planet is always in a state of change. Some of these changes - climactic and geological - have led directly and indirectly to the way we are today, providing triggers for adaptation. We as humans may have had more influence on that change as our population increased relentlessly, but it is always...