Nelson Mandela's Hope for His Nation
A TRUE TALE WITH
A CHERRY ON TOP
Eerdmanns Books for Young Readers
(pub.3.30.2021) 48 pages
Author: Lindsey McDivitt
Illustrator: Charly Palmer
Character: Nelson Mandela
Overview: "As Nelson Mandela lived and worked under the unjust system of apartheid, his desire for freedom grew. South Africa separated people by races, oppressing the country’s non-white citizens with abusive laws and cruel restrictions. Every day filled Mandela with grief and anger. But he also had hope—hope for a nation that belonged to everyone who lived in it.
From his work with the African National Congress, to his imprisonment on Robben Island, to his extraordinary rise to the presidency, Nelson Mandela was a rallying force against injustice. This stirring biography explores Mandela’s long fight for equality and the courage that propelled him through decades of struggle. Illustrated in the bold, bright colors of South Africa, A Plan for the People captures the spirit of a leader beloved around the world."
Tantalizing taste:
"Mandela covered fear with confidence. Courage. And calm.
...Mandela and his friends readied themselves to be the leaders their nation needed. This required news from the world outside prison. Sneaking newspapers from the trash heap when guards looked away, they shared all the information they could. Whispered across locked cells. Written in invisible ink made with milk. Delivered in tiny notes."
And something more: Charly Palmer shared in the Illustrator's Note: "Everywhere you go, you'll run into people disillusioned with politics and activists. But I believe that President Mandela was sincere and genuine in his desires for his people. We are often in the presence of greatness, and we're not even aware of it. Our elders may be traumatized by their experiences, or they may dismiss their stories as not being relevant or important. But their experiences have helped us be where we are. We're always standing on the shoulders of giants - giants like Nelson Mandela."