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Go Well, Stay Well
A white girl in South Africa finds out how difficult it is to be friends with a black girl.
- GenresYoung Adult
201 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
2 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Toeckey Jones
7 books10 followersTodd Kingsley-Jones was born and grew up in South Africa.
After graduating from university, he worked as a journalist. In 1971 he left South Africa. Having settled in London, he held down various jobs; in race relations, magazine production and book editing, before writing his first novel.
Under the pen-name 'Toeckey Jones',he has written award-winning novels and plays. His other published work includes short stories and poetry, as well as non-fiction.
After graduating from university, he worked as a journalist. In 1971 he left South Africa. Having settled in London, he held down various jobs; in race relations, magazine production and book editing, before writing his first novel.
Under the pen-name 'Toeckey Jones',he has written award-winning novels and plays. His other published work includes short stories and poetry, as well as non-fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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September 9, 2020I read this as a teenager. In many ways it’s painful to reread. It’s about all the horror of apartheid told through the eyes of a privileged white girl Candy who mets an African girl Becky she likes and wants to befriend.
The tone and language of this seem very much younger young adult but the content is not. It is jarring from going to easy-to-understand explanations of the situation and character motivations to the brutal reality. While anything horrible is told not shown, still the telling is there. (Consensual sex between minors is also alluded to and the girl who is reluctant is encouraged to go for it.)
The most awful part of the book for me was hearing Becky describe two rapes and trying to be matter-of-fact about it because it would be dangerous and stupid to pursue justice.
Who is this book aimed at? It is arguably a period piece, but it shows both how ridiculously bad conditions were for Africans and the struggle and reluctance of an English girl to really see how things are for her African friend. It also shows the varying reactions of Candy’s family to Becky - for all their professed dislike of apartheid, their actual reactions to having Becky in their home show something of the hypocrisy of human nature that wants to think of itself as better than it actually is.
Also shown is the tension between the English and the Afrikaaners. I don’t know much about this so I found it interesting.
Disclaimer: I am not South African so I don’t know how the people of South Africa view this book or how well it holds up to modern day scrutiny.
The tone and language of this seem very much younger young adult but the content is not. It is jarring from going to easy-to-understand explanations of the situation and character motivations to the brutal reality. While anything horrible is told not shown, still the telling is there. (Consensual sex between minors is also alluded to and the girl who is reluctant is encouraged to go for it.)
The most awful part of the book for me was hearing Becky describe two rapes and trying to be matter-of-fact about it because it would be dangerous and stupid to pursue justice.
Who is this book aimed at? It is arguably a period piece, but it shows both how ridiculously bad conditions were for Africans and the struggle and reluctance of an English girl to really see how things are for her African friend. It also shows the varying reactions of Candy’s family to Becky - for all their professed dislike of apartheid, their actual reactions to having Becky in their home show something of the hypocrisy of human nature that wants to think of itself as better than it actually is.
Also shown is the tension between the English and the Afrikaaners. I don’t know much about this so I found it interesting.
Disclaimer: I am not South African so I don’t know how the people of South Africa view this book or how well it holds up to modern day scrutiny.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2016
favorite quote, page 163:
'Its no use fighting for your freedom if you don't know how to use it constructively and wisely when you get it. And I don't mean knowing to make yourself fat and wealthy. I mean knowing how to try to make sure everybody gets a fair deal. Hitlers come in all colors, I can tell you'. .... 'Too many people still cant think for themselves. How can they choose the right leaders when they cant even read and write? They need to be educated about a lot of things. I want to be of some use when the time comes. But I cant help anybody until I know enough myself.'
'Its no use fighting for your freedom if you don't know how to use it constructively and wisely when you get it. And I don't mean knowing to make yourself fat and wealthy. I mean knowing how to try to make sure everybody gets a fair deal. Hitlers come in all colors, I can tell you'. .... 'Too many people still cant think for themselves. How can they choose the right leaders when they cant even read and write? They need to be educated about a lot of things. I want to be of some use when the time comes. But I cant help anybody until I know enough myself.'
July 29, 2018
One of the most memorable reads of my youth. Had an urge to reread this a few years ago and bought it off Amazon. Time and experience didn't change the poignancy of the story. It's about how the friendship between two girls from different worlds survived in Apartheid South Africa.
February 24, 2025
Two friends in South Africa - one black, one white. Can their friendship survive at a time in the middle of Apartheid? A brilliant read and one which doesn't scoot around the subject of racism, division, white privilege and the abject mistreatment of black South Africans.
Easy to read but not so easy in thinking that the time in which the book is set really wasn't that long ago and within my lifetime, thus far. Although I was quite young, I remember reading about Apartheid and seeing it on the news. Despite everything, I don't believe much has changed.
Trigger warning.... The book contains themes of rape and sexual assault. Whilst it is not discussed in detail, it is also not mentioned in any way before reading.
Easy to read but not so easy in thinking that the time in which the book is set really wasn't that long ago and within my lifetime, thus far. Although I was quite young, I remember reading about Apartheid and seeing it on the news. Despite everything, I don't believe much has changed.
Trigger warning.... The book contains themes of rape and sexual assault. Whilst it is not discussed in detail, it is also not mentioned in any way before reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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October 22, 2025Read this novel when I was 12. It left its mark. I read it in french and I could not say today if it was well written or not but it told an unforgettable story of friendship. That I remember.
Want to read
September 23, 2012Weee
September 15, 2016
unforgettable when you stay this part of the world
November 13, 2009
Still remember this really well considering I read it all those years ago!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews