در انتظار باران

by Sheila Gordon, پروین جلوه نژاد (مترجم)

در انتظار باران داستان نوجوان سیاه پوستی است که در تلاش برای غلبه بر پدیده شوم ”تبعیض نژادی” که بر کشورش سایه افکنده بود، به جای در دست گرفتن تفنگ و کشتن طرف مقابل، راه تحصیل و پیشرفت را انتخاب می کند و در حوادث مختلف زندگی، ایمانش به باران بیشتر از صاعقه و آتش است.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, School, Young Adult, Africa, Middle Grade, High School

276 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Annelisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book when I was in the fifth grade, and I've never forgotten it. It tells the story of two boys in apartheid-era South Africa, Tengo and Frikkie. The two boys are the best of friends; Tengo is the black son of the "boss boy" on a large, prosperous farm, while Frikkie is the nephew of the farm owner, who comes to visit every summer. Since the boys were little, they've been inseparable, but as they enter young adulthood, apartheid's rules and expectations take hold. This hits Tengo especially hard. He's extremely intelligent and perceptive, and begins to question why whites are always the rulers while blacks are always the servants. As the inequalities between black and white become more real to him, Tengo becomes angry, no longer able to accept the role laid out for him When he goes off to Johannesburg for an education, Frikkie becomes upset that his friend has gone. Frikkie doesn't like change; he cannot understand why there is a rift between the two, or why Tengo would be insulted to inherit his father's position of boss boy when they get older. Once they separate, they each mature in different ways, until they meet once again as men, and realize just how much the other has changed.
Along with the glaring racism behind apartheid, Gordon also highlights the system's ironies. Frikkie is a poor student who hates school, and wants nothing more than to run his uncle's farm. Yet he doesn't have to pay school fees. Tengo, on the other hand, actively pursues an education, yet must scrimp and save to buy books, and enter an inferior educational system. The book also provides insight into how apartheid started in the first place and highlights the Europeans' misunderstanding and disdain for the Africans' culture. The book succeeds in that the audience understands the thought processes of Tengo and Frikkie, why they feel the way they feel, their goals for the future, etc. One feels sorry for these two boys whose lives were dictated by such an oppressive system, and the friendship that was destroyed. The family scenes are drawn well, as are the contrasts between farm and city life. One sections that stands out occurs when Frikkie's uncle tells the two boys about the Boer Great Trek, and the "accomplishments" of their ancestors, while highlighting the "savagery" of Tengo's people. Not only does Frikkie get excited about the story (which also reveals his unknowing internalization of societal rules), but both of them are inconsiderate of Tengo, and how he might feel hearing his ancestors talked about in such a way. Afterward, Tengo muses about stories he heard from his family, who remember the taking of their land. It's a poignant moment, one that underscores the deep resentment and hatred that informed apartheid's policies.
The pacing of the book is slow at times, but it never veers into tedium. I wanted more of was Frikkie's life at home with his parents; his aunt and uncle love him as their own, but it would have been interesting to contrast his life in the suburbs with the farm. I also wanted to hear more from Tengo and Frikkie's younger sisters. The book does not have a traditionally happy ending, nor are all of the conflicts resolved. This may disappoint some readers, but given the reality of the situation, it makes perfect sense. While much has been written about apartheid-era South Africa, I haven't been able to find much in the way of literature aimed at young adults (Beverley Naidoo is a notable exception; if anyone knows any others, please let me know). I recommend this book to them (older ones), as well as to others who want to learn more about life during apartheid. It's heartbreaking at times, but it does make one think deeply about friendship, as well as seeing the world as it really is.

[Liralen · Rating 3 out of 5]

What interests me most about Waiting for the Rain is not the plot (serviceable, but predictable) or the characters (again serviceable, but leaning towards cardboard) but the original publication date: 1987, several years before apartheid fell. Gordon was raised in South Africa but, at the time of publication, had lived elsewhere for quite some time. She was in a better position than many to write about apartheid (e.g., in a better position than someone who had never seen its effects firsthand), but given the scorn that some of the characters heap on 'white liberals', I wonder if that is how she viewed herself. Or did she view herself as something more akin to the whites who left South Africa rather than be conscripted into the army? (Does it matter?)

I mentioned that the characters sometimes feel a bit like cardboard. Gordon was writing for an American audience, youth who were unlikely to know much about South Africa, and as such these characters are very clearly made for their roles. Tengo is the studious character who has been trapped his whole life by apartheid; Frikkie is the well-off Afrikaner destined to run a farm (and hold power over numerous black farmworkers). Tengo's cousin Joseph is interesting—I thought at first that he would be the 'bad' counterpoint to Tengo, the person who rebels violently to show the reader that rebelling quietly, through books, is better. He does end up being a more balanced character than that, but I wonder if the book ends on the uncertain note that it does because Gordon could not—of course—predict the exact timeline or structure of the end of apartheid.

Plenty of good things here. Frikkie is not depicted as a bad person, but it's clear from the very beginning that he and Tengo are on different planes, that their lives (and expectations for their lives) are very different and that Frikkie has never questioned this. He really doesn't question this as the book goes on, and in a way I appreciate that: it doesn't make me like Frikkie, particularly, but it seems realistic. Why would he want to question a system that has always given him everything he wanted? The ending was quite predictable (not the exact details but that that kind of interaction was coming), but I'd rather have this more ambiguous, neither-character-wins-over-the-other ending than one in which good triumphs unilaterally (see again re: realistic).

[Kayleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a really great book but took a long time to actually get interesting. The last two chapters were sooo intense but in my opinion the ending kind of sucked. It was a good read though, I enjoyed it.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've never read a YA fiction about apartheid before, and this felt like a story I "should" read, especially because it was written during that time. But unfortunately, I found it rather boring.

The blurb is about whether a "friendship can survive," but really, there's a section where the boys are ten, then thirteen, where Tengo really starts to get a new understanding of Frikkie, the white "kleinbaas," and then they are finishing high school and facing compulsory military service (Frikkie). There really is no deep friendship, and I think that's a missed opportunity.

The author draws these portraits of a black boy and a white boy, all leading up to the final confrontation, with not a whole lot of interaction between them in the meantime. It would have been a much more interesting story had there been real friendship that changed them both, that caused Frikkie to actually evolve and *see* what was wrong with apartheid. Maybe the story is more believable this way, but the characters felt flat, only there to illustrate a point.

[Scarlet Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waiting for the Rain, by Sheila Gordon, is about two young boys of opposite skin colors living under apartheid. They labored on a farm that Oom Koos owns. The story begins with Tengo, a black south african boy overhearing his friend Frikkie, a white south african boy talking about inheriting the farm when Oom Koos, his uncle dies. Tengo jokes about his future on the farm with Frikkie. This leads the narrator to discuss the close bond the two boys share. When Frikkie comes home from school to the farm, Tengo loves hearing all his stories. Gordon states, “The second thing Frikkie always did when he arrived at his uncle's farm for the school holidays was look for Tengo.” (Gordon 1) The author is showing how close of a bond the two boys have. He gets excitement from hearing these stories because due to Tengo’s skin color, he is not allowed to attend school. Frikkie doesn’t think twice about the unfair rights and rules Tengo has to follow. As the years pass Tengo starts to question why white people automatically gain all riches and education. Tengo’s curiosity grows and he soon begins to learn things about Frikkie and Oom Koos he wishes he didn’t. Gordon states, “He felt bewildered and sore inside. He wanted to get away from Frikkie—from all of them." (Gordon 6) The author is explaining how finding the truth about Frikkie hurt Tengo. When the boys become teenagers, Tengo saves enough money to attend a school in Johannesburg. Tengo is an intelligent young man who put in all his energy to become a successful student. While Tengo tremendously grows he thinks about attending college, but a boycott against the university commences. Tengo supports the anti-apartheid movement. One day, while Tengo is on his way to school he finds a swarm of military members trying to silence a protest led by students against apartheid. Tengo is misunderstood as acting in this protest and is temporarily detained. Tengo and Frikkie lose all contact with each other. After he leaves he learns that his school is shut down for a year. The narrator goes on to discuss the history of apartheid. Due to Tengo’s interest to help fight for racial equality, he misses the college entrance exams. His cousin who works for the African National Congress gives the advice that Tengo should go to America, to graduate at an American university. Tengo takes his advice and decides he will move. Before Tengo leaves for America he goes to a funeral for children who were murdered during the protests. Soldiers attempt to break up the gathering. Tengo runs and the crowd begins to get out of hand. While Tengo runs he notices a soldier running after him. He hides in an alcove until the soldier passes him, then he begins hitting the soldier several times with a metal club. As he stares at the frightened soldier he detects that the soldier is Frikkie. The two decide to talk. They reminisce about the farm and their childhoods. They debate about apartheid. The two men decide to go their separate ways. In the end, Tengo has the gun but decides to not kill Frikkie, and Frikkie doesn’t report Tengo to the government.

One significant event in the book is when Tengo goes to a funeral for children who were murdered during the protests. Soldiers attempt to break up the gathering. Tengo and a few others start to throw rocks at the soldiers which leads to the soldiers firing their guns. Tengo runs and the crowd begins to get out of hand. Someone in the crowd shoots and kills a soldier which results in the soldiers getting very angry. While Tengo runs he notices a soldier running after him. He hides in an alcove until the soldier passes him, then he begins hitting the soldier several times with a metal club. As he stares at the frightened soldier he detects that the soldier is Frikkie. The two decide to talk. They reminisce about the farm and their childhoods. They debate about apartheid. Gordon states, “I don’t understand why black people are rising up, I have to defend my family and friends from death threats.” (Gordon 16) The author is sharing how apartheid has an effect on everyone. Tengo then responds by telling Frikkie how they don’t want to hurt anyone. They just want to be equal. Frikkie disagrees and Tengo shakes his head. The two men decide to go their separate ways. They can’t share the same views with one another without getting into a disagreement. The best way is for them to go in different directions.

One big person of influence in Waiting for the Rain is Tengo’s cousin. Tengo’s cousin Joseph works for the African National Congress and shared great advice with Tengo while he was struggling to get into college. He told Tengo that if he immigrated to America he could get him into an American college. Where he would graduate as an American student. Tengo agreed with Joseph's advice and decided to move. Joseph strongly influenced Tengo by helping lead him in the right direction. With everything that was happening in South Africa at the time, Joseph knew his advice could at least lead Tengo to somewhere he would feel more welcome and equal. As a naturally intelligent person, Tengo puts most of his energy and time into learning and gaining knowledge. Gordon states, "He could not ever remember being so happy as each book was taken out, examined, and marveled at." (Gordon 5) By Joseph helping Tengo get more education, he is putting more opportunities for Tengo to do something he is truly passionate about. Going to an American college would show Tengo how much there is to truly see. Sharing how much more he can learn about the world.

The theme of Waiting for the Rain is the nature of friendship, education, racism, and equality. The nature of friendship is represented by how different views can change the way people see each other. Tengo and Frikkie’s friendship was very close bonded, but in the end, they had to go their separate ways. Due to their different political views and disagreements. Education is shown from two different views. Frikkie, who started school at a young age had all the education he needed. Although he was never interested in school and learning. When he finished school he started his mandated military service. After his contribution to the service, all his focus would go to the farm. On the other hand, Tengo didn’t get to go to school because of the color of his skin. Even though he didn’t go he was always so interested in learning and gaining knowledge. Tengo moved into a township when he became a teenager and attended school for colored people. He succeeded in all his academics and dreamt of going to college. Racism is shown in many ways. Gordon states, “When tea was over, Selina cleared the table. In the kitchen, she poured the tea that remained in the pot into a large, chipped enamel mug, stirred in sugar and milk. She put the cake away in a tin in the pantry, cut a thick slice of white bread which she spread with apricot jam, then took the bread and tea out to Tengo who was bouncing a ball in the yard." (Gordon 2) In this sentence, the author is trying to share how subtle racism is to Tengo. Other ways of racism were apartheid protests and boycotts which represent a huge part of the book. Equality was a big search in the book. Tengo wanted equality very badly. He always searched for ways to find it. He learned as much as he could to try and make a change.

I would recommend Waiting for the Rain. I believe the book is an excellent choice if you're interested in learning more about life during apartheid. It makes you think about friendship and how people's opinions change the way you see them. The book definitely opens your eyes on apartheid and how two people's views were so different. Although I enjoyed the book I didn’t really enjoy the ending. It ended very abruptly without giving any detail on what happens after they see each other.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I read it in 7th grade. It is very moving. About the apartheid in South Africa.
This is what I wrote for my project about the book. We could pick anything from this giant list of projects and I chose to analyze the title. I know that it is very simplistic but remember that it was 7th grade but I thought that it was good at the time and my teacher liked it so I thought that I would share with you all.

Waiting For The Rain
By: Samantha Rhodes

There are many ways that the title of a book can be interpreted. The firs t of which is literally. Waiting for the rain could just mean that there were people waiting for rain. In the book, the dam is drying up because of four years of a drought. There would be no water to use for the crops or animals. This would cause many people to lose a lot of money. Although the author could have just thought that the drought was important, there could have been a deeper meaning.

Another way to think of this title is that the drought represented apartheid. The drought was meant to end when apartheid was over. The rain would come to help the farm owners - when they were both black and white. It was as if the author used Mother Nature to represent all the war and suffering. It was saying - if the blacks have to suffer, then so do the whites.

The title could have also been about the relationship between Frikkie and Tengo. When they were young, they did not worry about the color of their skin and they were friends no matter what. In this time, there was lots of rain and everything was green. Then, when Tengo stopped talking to Frikkie and started worrying about apartheid, the rain stopped coming. Just as their friendship did.

Last is that bullets could represent the rain. Waiting for the rain could really mean waiting for the war. The war on apartheid was bound to happen. Everyone was just waiting. The whites wanted to stall it and the blacks wanted it to happen. Pretty soon a shower of bullets would come. As you can see, there are many meanings that can be given to a title. We never know what the author is really saying by a title.


... You all should have seen the giant mess of a web I drew planning that essay. What fun.

[Kerstin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book to see if it would be a good choice for my high school students to read. I was encouraged because it was about apartheid in South Africa and I'm always looking for culturally diverse texts for my students to experience. However, I was extremely disappointed as it tried to "balance" the white struggle with the black struggle. Seriously? I found this inexcusable. There is no such thing as equality between these vastly opposing power differentials. Ultimately, you are left with the rightful feeling that what the black population was forced to go through was abhorrent. But, Sheila Gordon still wants us to feel for the white characters and how hard it was for them to even think about giving up the power they had stolen in the first place. We are asked to have pity for the white main character who never "saw" the inequality right in front of him, who never thought the power differential was a problem. I'm sorry. No!

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this book used as an academic novel in a 7th grade English class, but thought it could very well also be used in a Social Studies class. It gets into the troubled history of South Africa without the complicated prose of Alan Paton's Cry, The Beloved Country, making it much more accessible to this age group.

[Hadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

در انتظار باران آدمو میبره به روزهای تلخ تبعیض نژادی توی آفریقای جنوبی و همراه یه نوجوون سیاه پوست و یه نوجوون سفید پوست آپارتاید رو تجربه میکنیم. داستان پردازی فوق العاده، توصیف های عالی و واقع گرایانه از احساسات افراد کاری میکنه که آدم نمیتونه کتابو زمین بذاره.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone in my English class hated this book, but I loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pre-Mandella South Africa. Interesting contrasts.

[JL Salty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: pg : racism, racial tension breaking into violence. No profanity, mention of a teen pregnancy
Recommend: jh and up

This review was a good one : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

This books reads VERY differently in 2025 than -I expect - it did in 1987. Critical race theory, Black Lives Matter, the 1619 project… there has been a lot of work in recent years regarding race relations in the US. This was a fascinating read in light of my OWN current events.

This books should not be presented as a story of friendship, but simply an example of inequality, and growing awareness of social structure and cultural shifts, suing two boys and their lives as examples of what occurred in South Africa at the time.

The story itself was not especially engaging or even interesting. The historical events and attitudes? That’s what carries the book.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tengo is black, Frikkie is white. They are childhood friends in apartheid South Africa. As Tengo grows, he wants to get an education and be something other than a low-paid farmhand. Frikkie just wants to run the farm and is taught by his family to be racist while thinking he is not racist because he does things like giving cast-offs to the blacks (this rang very true to me as I have met white South Africans today with that exact attitude). Time passes and protests and things begin to happen in the years before the end of apartheid. The book, ultimately, is about friendship even when you don’t understand each other and about anger that leads to change. I recommend it to middle school age kids learning about apartheid.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated PG-13 for violence.

I’m torn between 3-4 stars for this book. The frustrations, longing, and growth of Tengo — and stagnation of Frikkie — is enthralling. I learned a lot about the pre-Mandela situation in South Africa, and the challenges ahead of anyone, white or black, who wanted to love their neighbor truly. That’s not necessarily one of the main points of the book, but it is a part of the story. To love one’s neighbor, and to develop one’s talents, is difficult. Especially in an angry world bent on revenge or conquest.

[Jenni Heins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Might help that I'm somewhat historical event-challenged and love books like this to refresh my memory or develop my knowledge. But I couldn't put this down...especially in light of America's racial situation. Found interesting the comment by Tengo that "no other country was having the same oppression" (paraphrase) I wondered if Sheila Gordon was thinking of an American audience when she wrote that thought or if she viewed South Africa's situation as so much worse.

[Fitzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for my English class. Loved it! I think it's important because it highlights some key points of our history (in reality, it only ended 20 years ago, which wasn't that long ago). It's definitely a book I'd recommend to people in high school or older since younger kids might not understand or find it boring.

[Lyndi McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous historical information about apartheid from both sides of the issue. The two young men, one black , one white who grew up as best friends had to come to an understanding of the two points of view.

[Aliyah Castillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a YA, which is not always my favorite genre, this was great. The pacing was good as it was a two part book, and the characters, while there are the obvious bad ones, are well written. I learned a lot but also got to connect with a main character strongly, which is always the best!

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sad that this sort of thing took place in such recent history in an African nation, no less. The struggles and the ignorance were well portrayed.

[Jala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but felt like the ending dropped off with no real finish.

[Kim Benouski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in a YA class and while simplified and a bit cheesy, it taught about Apartheid through two teens, which I liked.

[Malik Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Try being a friend to a man that will own you your mother ,brother,sister an father.How do you become a friend if you are owned your not a friend you are a objective just imagine.
There were two friends on white named Frikkie one black named Tengo , Tengo stays on the a farm in south africa . An when the white boy grows up he is going to inherit the farm an that means he is gonna own his own friend in the long run. An as young men the black boy is going to start to feel the tenison between blacks and whites. An they both wonder if they can hold on to thier friendship.
Tengo a slave lives on a farm in south africa. That has little education is geting books sended to him from his family in the city an that making him smarter and the books are teaching him things he might of not ever have learned on the farm. An while he is working for Frikkie Uncle that the africans call Ooms Koos he is reading and starting to think what his place is in the world. An Frikkkie stayed in the town living the opposite life of Tengo, like going to school ,after school activites or even the right to walk around freely when ever he wants .An everything Tengo wanted either Frikkie hated or just didnt care for because Frikkie had Privilages that Tengo would never have or even get close.
But every time Frikkie vists his Uncle farm Tengo and him always have a good time and fun .But as Tengo gett older and a little smarter he started to realize that things werent equal. An he started to feel the tension betweem begin white at that time an being black. He started to feel the tension when Tengo saw the other white kids playing and he was working so he wounder. Why is he working in the kitchen and they are out playing ball.An at the time Tengo is trying to adjust to the way things are where he is,an now he has to realize that whites and blacks arent equal.
The main charcter oof the book is tengo an he is trying to realize ehat is his place on socity or just as a person.An now as he gets older and a smart he trying to figure out what Right from wrong.
But tengo and frikkie were alright until the real world hit them during that time.tengo was a good worker and a good friend but he just didnt understand how thing were .An how things worked during those times .
I think the author uses lots of details to show how things were during that time.like the time the author made Tengo the black boy yell at the litle white girl.an he woundeered if he was in trouble and he was alittle scared.an she showed how blacks need a permit to walk into town and she wasnt at a fast past she took her time to let people know things were.

[Alex Jameian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Jameian


This book is a touching story. Who would have thought that two completely different races would have such a powerful friendship that is unbreakable. The cover is what caught my eye because it shows that niether one of them discriminate against eachother.I actually had a much similar relationship!

The sacrifices is what gets me the most of the two that they both fight, and even change just to stay close. This is an unforgettable story

The story takes place at Frikkie's Uncle Farmhouse in South Africa. Where it is has the yellow hay,sweet smelling roof and great outdoors. Just How He liked it and wanted it to stay. Tengo's place was in a hut.

The farm is quite peaceful with everyone doing their job. Frikkie, who is the farmer's nephew minding his business preserving his life. And Tengo, a young african american of a couple who worked for a farmer. Theres Sissie, Frikkie's little sis, she is the curious type of both the friends life style and doesn't understand the two.Though these boys are real tight and are the same age, what interests me the most is they wanted different things. It amazes me how Tengo makes inconsistant effort to get an EDUCATION! He really wants to learn. I've never known anyone like him that is so into reading and wants to become somebody. He is actually striving while Frikkie is lacking. Tengo seems to be the much more brighter person in the picture! Which puts me in instant
shock.

I find it unfair that Tengo has to be given a pass to travel the city and Frikkie runs around scotch free doing what he wants. I was once told mainly by ignorance that the whites are always smarter and better than the other. Not this time, but with different goals, I ask myself how will this friendship unfold? Will it last or become a disaster?

The older and maturity that Tengo gains he is starting to acually see how bad and unfairly his people are being treated while Frikkie was blind by it. This lead for Frikkie and Tengo to become sworn enemies. It became intense and violent. Tengo shot him in the head and injured him bad. It took all of this to try to make a change.

This book is all about wanting to fight and wondering if it is really worth fighting for. I recommend it to anyone who has the same relationship that these different races had. Sometimes change is good. But even better when you are born into someone who you were meant to be. A very unpredictable story that gives a closer look on stereotypes and limits.

[Kenidy Fenton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tengo has adjusted to the city “it's nice here, I never see anything green here” three years have passed. Tengo no longer notices the sounds of the city, but he continues to miss certain aspects of the farm. Tengo has been studying non-stop, spending his breaks from school to study with a local preacher to catch up with other students his own age who began school much earlier. Joseph is rarely home and Tengo suspects he is somehow involved in the growing protests against the government by black students.
Frikkie continues with school and finally writes his matriculation exam. Now Frikkie is forced to serve two years in the army before he can return to the farm permanently. Shortly after training, at which he excels, Frikkie goes to the farm for a brief vacation. Frikkie learns that Tengo wants to go to college when school begins again, Tengo once again puts all his efforts into studying. However, one day the protests came to him. Tengo arrives at school to find the military trying to squash a protest outside the school gates. As Tengo attempts to decide which side he should choose, a soldier forces him into the schoolyard. Angry, Tengo attempts to leave, but the soldier will not allow it. The protesters throw rocks at the soldier and Tengo escapes. The school closes after this and Tengo finds himself sinking into a depression as he struggles with the choice of continuing his education or joining the protesters. The reverend comes by the house and counsels Tengo to continue his education with the suggestion that a new black government will need educated people to survive. Now schools have reopened so Tengos happy.Tengo visits Emma and learns that she is going to a private school outside the city. A few days later, Tengo hears Joseph and Elijah discuss a boy who was supposed to finish his education abroad, but he could not handle being so far from home and has returned. This causes Tengo to begin to wonder if he can make it abroad. Tengo thinks it over and decides to become a freedom fighter instead. A short time later, Joseph tells Tengo they will be leaving at the beginning of the following week. Tengo prepares by organizing and washing his clothes.
Tengo goes to the church to return some books to the reverend and learns that the reverend has gone to the funeral of seven people, including four children, who were killed by soldiers during a protest

[Malik Adams]

This book waiting for the rain is about two friends one named Frikkie he's white and Tengo and he is black. An when the white boy grows up he is going to own his friend that black.An as young men the black boy is going to start to feel the tenison between blacks and the whites.an they both wonder if they can hold on to there friendship.

Tengo a slave lives on a farm in south africa.working with his family that are servents/slaves for Frikkies uncle thath the africans called Oomas koos .An frikkie stayed in town living the oppsite life of tengo.Like going to school and just living a everyday life without being worked or harrsted. An everything Tengo wantes Frikkie either hated or just didnt care for because he been had privilages that Tengo never had or seen.


An everytime Frikkie vistit the farm him and tengo always have a good time but tengo starts to feel the tension between being white or black .Like one time Tengo was in the kitchen working with his mnother an a couple other workers for a meal for there family member from outtown. An Frikkie little sister decided to disrespect an old slave that was highly respected by the other an tengo staped an almost got in troble.A he started to see how thing were.an he also felt it when he started to see other white kids playing around while he was working .an thats when tengo releazied that at this time white an black werent equal.
But tengo and frikkie were alright until the real world hit them during that time.tengo was a good worker and a good friend but he just didnt understand how things were.But he felt he knew how thing were suppose to be.an frikkie was a good friend to tengo but just couldnt contol what was happeing.

This book waiting for the rain the authotr Sheila Gordon
use a lot of details.To show how thing were and how black people felt about the situation of being slave or even just unequal.During them time and it ways showing how a black boy and a white boy could have a equal friendship but cant be equal in the society.

[Mrs. G's Reading Literature · Rating 3 out of 5]

The theme of the book if you did something wrong to someone don't just stop talking to them cause then they wouldn't want to be your friend anymore then you have to wait for them to forgive you.
The genre of the book is Fiction and I would have expected it that it could be real or it could happen. The things that make the book Fictional is that the characters aren't real and that it couldn't happen at all. And the plot line isn't real, but on the other hand you never know if it could actually happen.
The thing that I didn't like about it is that the plot line wasn't that great I wish that she would have explained some stuff better. The things that I liked about it is that you could see what's what was happening while you're reading it. It tells like some things like how you should be kind and if you make a mistake then just try to be friends again. And while I'm reading I could hear someone saying that.
"He could not ever remember being so happy as each book was taken out, examined, and marveled at." "He wished Sissie hadn't come to the farm. He felt bewildered and sore inside. He wanted to get away from Frikkie—from all of them." "He wished Sissie hadn't come to the farm. He felt bewildered and sore inside. He wanted to get away from Frikkie—from all of them."
I'm going to tell you a little bit about the book. So theirs this kid and his name is Tego and he is a black boy and he works on this farm and he has a friend and his name is Frikkie and he's the white boy. Now Frikkie and Tego are really good friends they've been friends ever since they were little. When they grew older Frikkie went to school while Tego stayed at the farm working from dawn to night. Tego and Frikkie grew even more older their friendship started to fall apart and Tego wanted to learn and go to school like the other kids. So he got sent to go and live with his auntie Madam and he go sent to school there and so he studied and learned and then his dream came true he finally went to school and Frikkie really missed Tego. And that's what the book is pretty much about.
-Taima Murphy

[Xavier Hill]

Just Imagine You having to be friends with someone that owns you or better yet that owns your whole family. That isn’t such a good feeling. It doesn’t help for the simple fact that you grew up with this person. As far as you can see the only thing different from you two are the color of your skin.
That’s what it’s like for the two characters in this book Frikkie and Tengo. They grew up together, but as they get older, they notice society’s ways with slavery. Tengo is the black boy who family stays on a farm in South Africa. They are owned by Frikkie’s family, and when Frikkie gets older he is going to inherit the farm, along with Tengo’s family. Tengo is a slave that is owned by Frikkie’s family, well more so by his uncle. He has very little education unlike Frikkie. They are total opposites of each other. Tengo is trying to realize what his place in society is or just as a person .An now as he gets older and opens his eyes to the world he’s trying to figure out the difference between Right and wrong. But Tengo and Frikkie were alright until the real world hit them during that time.Tengo was a good worker and a good friend but he just didn’t understand how society was .An how things worked during those times.
I think the author uses lots of details to show how things were during that time. Like the time the author made Tengo the black boy yell at the little white girl.an he wondered if he was in trouble and he was a little scared.an she showed how blacks need a permit to walk into town and she wasn’t at a fast past she took her time to let people know things were.
This book has a good plot and story line, but I didn’t like. Because it wasn’t really anything in the book I could relate to. Nothing really stood out or grabbed my attention. I’m sure people that lived in the time of racism and segregation would love this book. Don’t get me wrong it is a very good book, just isn’t the type of books I enjoy reading.

[Olivia Ebnet · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book "Waiting for the Rain" is about two boys growing up together on a farm in South Africa and going out into the world. One of the boys is named Frikkie. He is the farmers nephew and always comes over the summer and holidays. The other boy is named Tengo. He is a native and his family works for Frikkies family. He lives in a small village area on the farm. The two grow up and play with eachother all the time. Then Tengo starts to take intrest in learning and wants to go to the city. Frikkie want to be on the farm for the rest of his life and quit school. They go through many things together and apart and both learn how hard it is to grow up in South Africa and be so different from eachother.
I thought the book was ok. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either. It was just boring at some moments that seemed to drag on forever. It didn't have alot of action in it until the very last few chapters but it still made me want to read it because you know something is going to happen and something big did happen.
The type of person who reads this book would need to be ok with reading about when blacks were treated unfairly and thought to be below whites. Somebody who likes farming would like this book also. Or someone whos into civil wars and violence which happens a lot as you get through the middle of the book. Overall, if you like realistic books with real life issues, this book is a good one for you.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in 7th grade (over 12 years ago), and loved it. I can't remember the details of the plot any longer, but I remember, at the time, feeling like race relations was being stuffed down our throats at school. This book was so moving. I could identify with both characters, and, by the end, I couldn't stop turning the pages. The conclusion felt realistic and tragic, and I distinctly remember how sad I felt for both characters when they finally had to come face-to-face with the changes that had taken place between them and in the world they lived in. The main reason I am giving this book 5 stars is because I still think about it often. It did a fantastic job of initiating my education about Apartheid and race relations in South Africa. Maybe one day I'll get around to re-reading it.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son's 7th Grade recommended reading list contained this book so I decided to see what he would be learning. It's a complex subject - apartheid era South Africa - but I thought the book presented it well, in a style that a 12-year old could understand. For myself it was both comfortably familiar (the landscape descriptions) and horribly reminiscent (the language used) of much of my youth in South Africa. Frikkie is a young white Afrikaner, his childhood friend Tengo, the black child of a farm servant. Best friends in childhood, they soon find themselves on opposite sides of the apartheid struggle. Well written and thought provoking, especially for youth first learning about this tragic part of South African history.