It's Trevor Noah : Born a Crime

It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime is a riveting narrative of Trevor's childhood and adolescence in South Africa under the last years of apartheid and the first years of South Africa's post-apartheid journey. Trevor seamlessly mixes comedy and matter-of-fact reality to share stories of haunting poverty and stories that more universally explore a childhood of learning and testing boundaries. I read Born a Crime several years ago and remember enjoying it so I wasn't sure what I'd think about the YA version, but I found this memoir to be full of such fascinating commentary on poverty and racism, even as it often focused on Trevor's relationship with his mother. Told in a series of stories, interwoven with background information about apartheid & post-apartheid in South Africa, this book would be appropriate for middle school readers (as well as anyone older).

I was taken back by the literary telling elements Trevor Noah used in his book. It made reading the story seem more of a leisurely read than expected. I thought this book would be a profound book for young readers as it addresses the themes of race, oppression, coming of age, the power of language, etc..

The structure of this young adult novel challenges the plot structure of Western. It has a nonlinear structure represents that storytelling culture of his African roots. Noah was able to intertwine institutional and personal racism experiences. This story unravels the history of how the South African government “Apartheid” came to be. This is an eye opening text that portrays oppression and separation amongst Africa’s own tribes.

I was able to walk in the shoes of a mixed male from South Africa that knew 5 languages. Trevor Noah used the 5 languages to help him best adapt to his environment. Noah expresses the power language, even over race.

This text draws many parallels to the division currently occurring in the world. Trevor uses humor, humbling experiences, and wise lessons learned from the matriarchs of his family to embody the bridge between races, class, and Western Civilization to South African cultures.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah was a funny and heartbreaking memoir about a boy who is mixed race growing up in South Africa at a time when it was illegal for black and white people to have children. This book jumps through time as Noah shares stories from his youth, which shed light on the social and racial turbulence and poverty that plagued his hometown. Born a Crime has discusses themes of racism, family, coming of age, and abuse. Reading this truly confuses your body- one moment it has your gut hurting from laughter, pages later your chest aches with heartbreak.