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No Turning Back: A Novel of South Africa
Escaping from his violent stepfather, twelve-year-old Sipho heads for Johannesburg, where he has heard that gangs of children live on the streets. Surviving hunger and bitter-cold winter nights is hard'but learning when to trust in the ‘new' South Africa proves even more difficult.
No Turning Back appeared on the short list of both the Guardian and Smarties book prizes on the United Kingdom.
No Turning Back appeared on the short list of both the Guardian and Smarties book prizes on the United Kingdom.
208 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 1994
41 people are currently reading
541 people want to read
About the author
Beverley Naidoo
60 books95 followersBeverley Naidoo was born in South Africa on 21 May 1943 and grew up under apartheid. As a student, she began to question the apartheid regime and was later arrested for her actions as part of the resistance movement in South Africa. In 1965 she went into exile, going to England. She married another South African exile; they have two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
June 6, 2021
This was clearly aimed at children, but I felt like I learned a thing or two from it about life in South Africa in the Apartheid era. The novel follows a young boy who has run away from home and voluntarily becomes homeless to escape an abusive family situation. He lives on the street and develops friendships with other boys in similar situations.
I think this would be a great book for any older child to read.
I think this would be a great book for any older child to read.
September 2, 2015
I personally didn't like the book very much, and thought it was very glum and slow-paced.
It did, however, enlighten me to the other side of the world, where not everyone may be living the life. It showed real human struggles, and not the typical first-world ones we often come across in contemporary fiction. It put everything into perspective, which I give full props for.
Overall, I'm glad I got to read it, but I wouldn't read it again.
It did, however, enlighten me to the other side of the world, where not everyone may be living the life. It showed real human struggles, and not the typical first-world ones we often come across in contemporary fiction. It put everything into perspective, which I give full props for.
Overall, I'm glad I got to read it, but I wouldn't read it again.
August 21, 2021
The protagonist was likeable enough but the overall story wasn’t that great. However the relatively simple plot and writing style would make it a good book for pre-teen kids to read/study in school I imagine. All in all, this was a quick, easy read but probably not one I’m going to remember in the long run.
January 23, 2011
No Turning Back by Beverly Naidoo
I read this book this year 2010-2011,it is a book about a 12 year old boy named Sipho have escaped from his stepfather's abuse. He have learned the rule of the streets and has been independent for several months. During his journey in the streets he has found enough work to feed himself. But Sipho couldn't continue to live this way and couldn't always find a place to sleep in the streets. The only thing Sipho wanted was to go to school and have a good education.
In the book the only one that i would like to have as a friend is Sipho because he could tell me a lot about his experience in South africa and also while he was alone in the streets.
I did like a little bit the book, because it told me alot about Suth Africa and how we live in the streets.
I read this book this year 2010-2011,it is a book about a 12 year old boy named Sipho have escaped from his stepfather's abuse. He have learned the rule of the streets and has been independent for several months. During his journey in the streets he has found enough work to feed himself. But Sipho couldn't continue to live this way and couldn't always find a place to sleep in the streets. The only thing Sipho wanted was to go to school and have a good education.
In the book the only one that i would like to have as a friend is Sipho because he could tell me a lot about his experience in South africa and also while he was alone in the streets.
I did like a little bit the book, because it told me alot about Suth Africa and how we live in the streets.
June 30, 2019
This book had some real sad and infuriating moments.
I thought it was very insightful into what it was like to live in South Africa around the time of Apartheid. I was born just after Mandela became President of South Africa and to be honest, I had no idea how bad it was! We never learned about it really in my school in the UK. Although we learnt about civil rights in America, we probably should have been taught about South Africa as well! Actually, how about all of the world, School! I think this would have been very important book to read when I was younger! Mini-rant over!
I think I enjoyed Sipho's relationships with the other boys in the gang the most, though I would have liked it explored a little more, we didn't learn too much about them. Although it was an enjoyable read, it did feel like events happened like a checklist and the characters weren't fully fleshed out enough for me.
Overall, I did like this book, I'm glad I read it and I think it's great book for children to read, think I'll pass my copy on to my nephew.
I thought it was very insightful into what it was like to live in South Africa around the time of Apartheid. I was born just after Mandela became President of South Africa and to be honest, I had no idea how bad it was! We never learned about it really in my school in the UK. Although we learnt about civil rights in America, we probably should have been taught about South Africa as well! Actually, how about all of the world, School! I think this would have been very important book to read when I was younger! Mini-rant over!
I think I enjoyed Sipho's relationships with the other boys in the gang the most, though I would have liked it explored a little more, we didn't learn too much about them. Although it was an enjoyable read, it did feel like events happened like a checklist and the characters weren't fully fleshed out enough for me.
Overall, I did like this book, I'm glad I read it and I think it's great book for children to read, think I'll pass my copy on to my nephew.
March 8, 2021
This book describes the harsh reality of life in the dying days of Apartheid for a Black boy, Sipho, who runs away from his mother and cruel stepfather shack in a township to the bright lights of Johannesburg. But, the city is a place of mixed experiences too, friendship with Jabu and the street kids (malunde), the reality of being a street kid, poverty and a hand-to-mouth existence, drugs, racism and prejudice against the homeless, class divide between rich and poor and well as between Black and white. The author casts a ray of hope in the guise of the shelter which Jabu and Sipho finally move to, with food to eat and attending school. They also become part if the future for all children in South Africa, Black and white, represented by the character Judy.
A must read for all school children. Perfect for Empathy Day, perfect for any day.
A must read for all school children. Perfect for Empathy Day, perfect for any day.
August 4, 2018
This was a good middle grade book to introduce an older child to some of the real issues of South Africa in the early 1990s. It covers poverty, race, race relations, homelessness, drugs, and violence, but none too deeply or in an overly scary way, which is perfect for the 9-12 year old kid - introduce them, get them to think about it, but don’t delve too deeply or heavily into it - describe it experiential rather than theoretically. So I think this book did a good job of that. Plus, it has a fairly positive ending (won’t say happy, because it’s not that).
December 31, 2020
This is a story of a child on the streets of South Africa. It is obviously written for children, and I think it would be something good for schools to show what this life is like. As an adult, I thought it was okay. There wasn't much of a story. It was more a series of events happening to Sipho, the main character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2018
I had to read this book for class but I forgot it In my desk so I was searching everywhere to get it
February 24, 2024
This is brief, quick read in a simple style about the search for a better life. It is also about friendships, family relationships, trust, and survival. It is a little too simplistic, the characters very much lack depth, and the political tensions are not brought to the fore, making this a less than memorable book. Additionally, I also found the start of the book (like the first 10 chapters) quite boring and I really wanted to put the book down. However, it is a good book to introduce children to some of the real issues of South Africa in the early 1990s, It covers the problems of poverty, race, homelessness, drugs, and violence, but none too deeply or in a scary way. It is quite detailed and descriptive (but not with the characters) and I loved the ambiguous ending. Overall, would not recommend much but the plot got better as the story progresses...
May 16, 2022
Read this with my 6th graders and think it's an excellent choice for the year level. Lots of meaty globsl issues: racism, poverty, hunger, homelessness, and domestic abuse, to name a few. One disappointment was that I wanted it to include the political situation, the election of Mandela, a bit more, but maybe it's better for 12-year-olds that the book only very peripherally addresses politics. A question to ask students: is the authors imagined audience white children or black children?
December 1, 2025
Rating: g+ racism during South African apartheid. Police violence. Street children.
Recommend: historical fiction readers.
A better novel than the rain one! This one touches on the racial tension but lives more on the effects, the poverty of the Black people. But it ALSO points out the good that can happen, both with individuals willing to help, to try, and with organizations established to relieve some of the burden.
Recommend: historical fiction readers.
A better novel than the rain one! This one touches on the racial tension but lives more on the effects, the poverty of the Black people. But it ALSO points out the good that can happen, both with individuals willing to help, to try, and with organizations established to relieve some of the burden.
April 2, 2020
A quick read offering insights into the experiences of young men living in South Africa around the time of Nelson Mandela told from the perspective of a runaway. Simplistic for its childlike perspective and yet gritty and raw in content, this book delivered a punch and ended on a realistic note, which I appreciated.
November 4, 2019
A sensitive insight into why children in African townships may run away from home and how they can survive the harsh realities of life on the street. A good book for tween age children in UK to read.
March 13, 2024
I wanted to read some more South African literature this year and this seemed like a good starting point. It's the 1990s. Post Mandela's release and the 94 referendum, but prior to Mandela's election as president. Apartheid is clearly ending, but not quite yet.
This is the backdrop to twelve year old Sipho's World as he flees his violent stepfather in the township and tries to survive in the city. This book is aimed at YA readers or possibly younger, however it is also part of the Penguin Originals collection for a reason as the stark prose is accessible, yet powerful.
This is the backdrop to twelve year old Sipho's World as he flees his violent stepfather in the township and tries to survive in the city. This book is aimed at YA readers or possibly younger, however it is also part of the Penguin Originals collection for a reason as the stark prose is accessible, yet powerful.
July 15, 2019
This was interesting. I like how she does not color characters as clearly good or bad.
September 22, 2020
Didactic.
November 25, 2020
Was a pretty interesting book and the plot was good but I started to lose interest towards the end. Very detailed and descriptive
February 23, 2023
Beautifully written
March 24, 2023
schuelbuech halt
May 8, 2025
was a nice easy read, no major thoughts about it
October 28, 2024
this book was very sweet and sad, the hard life of people living on the streets but described as a young boy, not even in fourth grade. it opens your eyes to how things work in other countries, since we tend to learn so little about the civil rights history outside of america.
April 14, 2024
A CRITIQUE OF SOME ASPECTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT
Author Wallace Kaufman wrote in the first chapter of this 1994 book, “As a science writer, I … often find that nature for environmentalists is quite different from nature as scientists know it. These differences are one subject of this book. The other experiences that moved me to write this book were my … travels … in the former Soviet empire… Everyone knows how horribly the Communists fouled their environment… The more I have traveled in this world of ruined landscapes and ruined people, the more I realize that American environmentalists harbor the same fear of human nature and the same dependence on governmental command… I find myself firmly convinced that I no longer live in the same world as my friends in the environmental movement… My friends in the movement … speak and act as if business, industry, technology, and even science are villains to be arrested and punished… As a long-time activist for environmental improvement, I will be called a traitor to the cause for my opinions, but it has become clear to me that either we care about the environmental movement or we care about the environment.” (Pg. 1-4)
He continues, “The basic assumption of this book is that nature does not care---only we do. And because we care, we have made the world an ever more livable place for ourselves by using science and technology and by exercising our power of dominion, wherever it comes from… industrialized cultures have pursued dominion over nature and subdued most of its dangerous tendencies… No other tradition has developed a sophisticated technology capable of feeding six billion people and monitoring the condition of the environment… A movement that rejects this tradition is dangerously out of touch with reality… The questions of this book are how do we intelligently determine the real state of our environment, decide what tools we need, and manage for the long-term success of the human species?” (Pg. 13-14)
He states, “The conservation and environmental movements are as different as two runners in a relay race… The environmental movement is much less bond by science and economics, although it pays homage to both… The sportsmen who founded it … enjoyed the wilderness, but they did not talk about animals as equal beings and they did not blame their religion, Western culture, or the political system for environmental destruction.” (Pg. 26)
He suggests, “The great fight over preserving wetlands and endangered species is not about whether we should do it. Americans agree on the value of wildlife. The disagreements are about what a wetland is and whether every square foot requires saving, and about which species or subspecies should be protected, whether they are really in danger, and whether the regulations that cost private property owners so much really work. And of course there is the question of who should pay.” (Pg. 127)
He summarizes, “The debate in our society is not really between those who care about nature and those who do not. Everyone has a preferred environment. Less than half of 1 percent of the world really wants to live in a wilderness, or even in a cabin at Walden Pond… it is clear that we all prefer nature to be subservient to our own interests. The debate is about how to manage nature for human purposes.” (Pg. 175)
This book will appeal to those who are critical of some of the more ‘radical’ of the environmental movement.
Author Wallace Kaufman wrote in the first chapter of this 1994 book, “As a science writer, I … often find that nature for environmentalists is quite different from nature as scientists know it. These differences are one subject of this book. The other experiences that moved me to write this book were my … travels … in the former Soviet empire… Everyone knows how horribly the Communists fouled their environment… The more I have traveled in this world of ruined landscapes and ruined people, the more I realize that American environmentalists harbor the same fear of human nature and the same dependence on governmental command… I find myself firmly convinced that I no longer live in the same world as my friends in the environmental movement… My friends in the movement … speak and act as if business, industry, technology, and even science are villains to be arrested and punished… As a long-time activist for environmental improvement, I will be called a traitor to the cause for my opinions, but it has become clear to me that either we care about the environmental movement or we care about the environment.” (Pg. 1-4)
He continues, “The basic assumption of this book is that nature does not care---only we do. And because we care, we have made the world an ever more livable place for ourselves by using science and technology and by exercising our power of dominion, wherever it comes from… industrialized cultures have pursued dominion over nature and subdued most of its dangerous tendencies… No other tradition has developed a sophisticated technology capable of feeding six billion people and monitoring the condition of the environment… A movement that rejects this tradition is dangerously out of touch with reality… The questions of this book are how do we intelligently determine the real state of our environment, decide what tools we need, and manage for the long-term success of the human species?” (Pg. 13-14)
He states, “The conservation and environmental movements are as different as two runners in a relay race… The environmental movement is much less bond by science and economics, although it pays homage to both… The sportsmen who founded it … enjoyed the wilderness, but they did not talk about animals as equal beings and they did not blame their religion, Western culture, or the political system for environmental destruction.” (Pg. 26)
He suggests, “The great fight over preserving wetlands and endangered species is not about whether we should do it. Americans agree on the value of wildlife. The disagreements are about what a wetland is and whether every square foot requires saving, and about which species or subspecies should be protected, whether they are really in danger, and whether the regulations that cost private property owners so much really work. And of course there is the question of who should pay.” (Pg. 127)
He summarizes, “The debate in our society is not really between those who care about nature and those who do not. Everyone has a preferred environment. Less than half of 1 percent of the world really wants to live in a wilderness, or even in a cabin at Walden Pond… it is clear that we all prefer nature to be subservient to our own interests. The debate is about how to manage nature for human purposes.” (Pg. 175)
This book will appeal to those who are critical of some of the more ‘radical’ of the environmental movement.
February 12, 2012
this is a very interesting book.
at the begining Sipho ran away from his mother and stepfather's house because his step father was always beating him.
he went to Hill brow and meets a group of boys that he stayed with. He and the other boys had to sleep outside, or in a safe place. When they were cold that night, they drugs.
one day, they got attacked by some bad police mans that threw them in a lake, but an old man heleped them out. when they were going,Sipho fall as sleep in from of a man's shop.
the next morning, the man came with his daughter and saw Sipho,they put him in their car and took him to their house. while they were going the man( Mr. Danny) picked his daughters, Judy's friend, Portia.
In the car, they made presenetations. when they reached he met mama Ada, the woman that takes care of the house and david, Mr.Danny's son and Judy's little brother. David did not like Sipho. In the house, he had a soft bed and good food.
Judy and Portia thought alot of stuffs to Sipho.
Sipho worked at Mr.Danny's shop.
one day he went to see his friends and told him everything about his life in mr. danny's house.
there was a day that Maria,a one that works in mr.danny's shop had an argument with him and she decided to leave his shop.
Mr. danny once thought that some of his stock of jeans were missing so he accused Sipho but later he exused himself.
the next day Sipho found a paper in room that written "THIEF", he was very angry that he went to the family room before he opened the dooe, he heard mr. danny and Judy having an argument about him. After hearing all of these, he run away from the house.
he went to look for his friends but he did not find them, in the night he was chased by a man with a broken glass and he entered in the mall, and hid in a garbage can.
she stayed there for a long time and came out
when he came out, he met his friend Joseph that told him that his bestfriend Jabu went to a sheleter.
in the shelter he met sis pauline that he told a little bit about his life and brother zack that asked him questions on his life and where his mother lived.
he met his best friend Jabu.
he went to school and met new friends and teachers.
at the end, brother zack told him that his mother's house got burned and they lived somewhere else.
he went to meet his mother and his little sister, Thembi, with sis pauline.
his mother wants him to come back but he does not want because of his stepfather, so for the while that she look for a decision, he stayed in the sheleter.
it tells how most boys ran away and their life in the street with all the dangers.
it is a good book and i liked it!
at the begining Sipho ran away from his mother and stepfather's house because his step father was always beating him.
he went to Hill brow and meets a group of boys that he stayed with. He and the other boys had to sleep outside, or in a safe place. When they were cold that night, they drugs.
one day, they got attacked by some bad police mans that threw them in a lake, but an old man heleped them out. when they were going,Sipho fall as sleep in from of a man's shop.
the next morning, the man came with his daughter and saw Sipho,they put him in their car and took him to their house. while they were going the man( Mr. Danny) picked his daughters, Judy's friend, Portia.
In the car, they made presenetations. when they reached he met mama Ada, the woman that takes care of the house and david, Mr.Danny's son and Judy's little brother. David did not like Sipho. In the house, he had a soft bed and good food.
Judy and Portia thought alot of stuffs to Sipho.
Sipho worked at Mr.Danny's shop.
one day he went to see his friends and told him everything about his life in mr. danny's house.
there was a day that Maria,a one that works in mr.danny's shop had an argument with him and she decided to leave his shop.
Mr. danny once thought that some of his stock of jeans were missing so he accused Sipho but later he exused himself.
the next day Sipho found a paper in room that written "THIEF", he was very angry that he went to the family room before he opened the dooe, he heard mr. danny and Judy having an argument about him. After hearing all of these, he run away from the house.
he went to look for his friends but he did not find them, in the night he was chased by a man with a broken glass and he entered in the mall, and hid in a garbage can.
she stayed there for a long time and came out
when he came out, he met his friend Joseph that told him that his bestfriend Jabu went to a sheleter.
in the shelter he met sis pauline that he told a little bit about his life and brother zack that asked him questions on his life and where his mother lived.
he met his best friend Jabu.
he went to school and met new friends and teachers.
at the end, brother zack told him that his mother's house got burned and they lived somewhere else.
he went to meet his mother and his little sister, Thembi, with sis pauline.
his mother wants him to come back but he does not want because of his stepfather, so for the while that she look for a decision, he stayed in the sheleter.
it tells how most boys ran away and their life in the street with all the dangers.
it is a good book and i liked it!
October 30, 2021
No turning back is a Teen book about a South African boy who runs away to escape a neglectful home life with his mum and step father. The protagonist thinks that life on the streets will be better than living at home with a man he hates and a mother who cannot stand up for him. The short novel chronicles his adventures and the positive and negative things that happen to him when he runs away. I found some of the story a bit hard to believe For example when he is rescued and taken in by a white family I wasn’t sure how realistic this was and felt that it was a bit too easy and convenient. I also felt this about the ending which was full of hope and positivity. I am not convinced that this reflects the reality of street children and the homeless so I found this very hard to believe. I think the story would have been written very differently and had many different events and experiences of it had been written by a black South African rather than a white South African woman.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2015
Sipho lives in an abusive world. He is getting ready to run away. The world he lives in is cruel and harsh. Sipho family is his step dad and his mom. His mom loves him a lot wile his dad beats him to the ground. But his world changes when he takes off into the streets only taking a hand full of coins from his mom’s purse .When he runs away he flees to hillbro city were there are many venders both mean and kind. While he is out there he has a fear of being found by his step father and what awful things he would do to him. He also feels he is hurting his mom by running away. Sipho faces the fact that his mom is wondering were or what has happened to him.
The themes are growing up and prejudice. The theme of growing up is shown when he runs away and has to try to live out there with out getting into trouble. One of the conflicts Sipho has to face is finding food and shelter. He joins a group of homeless boys and has to learn how to live on the streets in the cold. He learns he has to work hard just to survive. Sipho also has to deal and harsh people. Another conflict he faces is trying to make sure that the people do not call the police or hurt them.
I would recommend this book to people between the ages of 10-18 because I think they would enjoy it. I think this would appeal to them because the book is in a completely different point of view from the world we live in today. I also like that the characters are like normal young people but in a different country and society. In addition I enjoyed that the group of homeless boys that Sipho was with could relate to each other.
I would give these book three stars out of five. I liked this book but did not enjoy it as much as other books. Maybe because I favor reading other genres. When I first started this book I thought it would be an adventure book, but it turned out to be a book about growing up and life lessons. Overall I would say this was a good book. I liked this book because I like his story about living on the streets of South Africa with nothing but a few coins and a group of homeless boys on his side. It is very different from other books I have read, but I still like it.
The themes are growing up and prejudice. The theme of growing up is shown when he runs away and has to try to live out there with out getting into trouble. One of the conflicts Sipho has to face is finding food and shelter. He joins a group of homeless boys and has to learn how to live on the streets in the cold. He learns he has to work hard just to survive. Sipho also has to deal and harsh people. Another conflict he faces is trying to make sure that the people do not call the police or hurt them.
I would recommend this book to people between the ages of 10-18 because I think they would enjoy it. I think this would appeal to them because the book is in a completely different point of view from the world we live in today. I also like that the characters are like normal young people but in a different country and society. In addition I enjoyed that the group of homeless boys that Sipho was with could relate to each other.
I would give these book three stars out of five. I liked this book but did not enjoy it as much as other books. Maybe because I favor reading other genres. When I first started this book I thought it would be an adventure book, but it turned out to be a book about growing up and life lessons. Overall I would say this was a good book. I liked this book because I like his story about living on the streets of South Africa with nothing but a few coins and a group of homeless boys on his side. It is very different from other books I have read, but I still like it.
June 24, 2022
It was a pretty good book, short & long chapters, interesting, good characters, but the ending of the book could definitely be improved.
Naidoo’s writing! I loved it, but sometimes there were words mentioned like ‘malunde, mato-matoes’ or something like that, and it was quite annoying to keep flipping back to the glossary. But overall, this book was pretty good. We were reading it as a class. Thanks to my english teacher for making us read this book 🙂
Naidoo’s writing! I loved it, but sometimes there were words mentioned like ‘malunde, mato-matoes’ or something like that, and it was quite annoying to keep flipping back to the glossary. But overall, this book was pretty good. We were reading it as a class. Thanks to my english teacher for making us read this book 🙂
February 22, 2014
The characters in No Turning Back are flat. They are flat because they don’t change. You do not learn much about the main character named Sipho. You have no clue as to what he looks like except for his clothes. The major theme of the book is the hardships that South African children can face. This theme was implied both directly and indirectly. This book takes place in present day South Africa. If this book took place somewhere else then it would definitely affect the book. Since in most of the book, Sipho is amazed how black and white people are together if it took place somewhere else because then he wouldn’t be amazed because other countries no longer have segregation. The narrator explains in the begging of the book how when Sipho was younger, his mother promised to take him into the city with the big buildings and nice shops. Sipho’s mother never took him into the city and when Sipho enough of his stepfather’s beatings the city is where he ran to.
The writing was very simple although some of the context was a little hard to understand at some points. The writing was actually clear and I could read it with ease. Dialogue is very effective because you can see the main characters relationships with other characters. Dialogue would also help show a sense of atmosphere. It could show that two people are having a fight and it creates tension. There are few examples of suspense and mystery. One example is when the malunde were taken by surprise at night and thrown into a lake. It was a little scary even for the reader. I think the plot of the book was handled nicely. I could tell when every point on the plot was in the book.
The writing was very simple although some of the context was a little hard to understand at some points. The writing was actually clear and I could read it with ease. Dialogue is very effective because you can see the main characters relationships with other characters. Dialogue would also help show a sense of atmosphere. It could show that two people are having a fight and it creates tension. There are few examples of suspense and mystery. One example is when the malunde were taken by surprise at night and thrown into a lake. It was a little scary even for the reader. I think the plot of the book was handled nicely. I could tell when every point on the plot was in the book.
May 27, 2011
In my opinion, No Turning Back was a very good book so I would probably give it four stars. At times, the author refers to drugs and alcohol so it would be a good book for readers that are young adults.
A young boy by the name of Sipho runs away from home because his stepfather is abusing him. He decides to head for Johannesburg, figuring that his mom and stepfather couldn't find him there. Sipho runs into a local gang of boys his age. Desperate for money to survive, he joins them. He later finds that they do drugs just to stay warm at night and steal as a last resort. Sipho then finds a nice store owner who will give him a place to sleep and food if Sipho was willing to work for him. After about a week with this family, Sipho thinks that the store owner's son dislikes him for some reason. He makes up his mind to also run from this family, the third time that he has abruptly left somewhere. Sipho is later taken in by a orphan shelter where one of his friends from the gang decided to stay. The shelter's leaders convince Sipho to reunite with his mom. When Sipho does go back to visit his home, he finds out that he has a baby sister. He still thinks that he would be best off in the shelter so he goes back to Johannesburg.
A young boy by the name of Sipho runs away from home because his stepfather is abusing him. He decides to head for Johannesburg, figuring that his mom and stepfather couldn't find him there. Sipho runs into a local gang of boys his age. Desperate for money to survive, he joins them. He later finds that they do drugs just to stay warm at night and steal as a last resort. Sipho then finds a nice store owner who will give him a place to sleep and food if Sipho was willing to work for him. After about a week with this family, Sipho thinks that the store owner's son dislikes him for some reason. He makes up his mind to also run from this family, the third time that he has abruptly left somewhere. Sipho is later taken in by a orphan shelter where one of his friends from the gang decided to stay. The shelter's leaders convince Sipho to reunite with his mom. When Sipho does go back to visit his home, he finds out that he has a baby sister. He still thinks that he would be best off in the shelter so he goes back to Johannesburg.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews