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The Cedarville Shop and the Wheelbarrow Swap
A lot of things can feel just out of reach in 12-year-old Boipelo Seku's small, impoverished village of Cedarville, South Africa. The idea of one day living in a house that's big enough for his family is just a faraway dream. But when Boi stumbles on a story about a Canadian man who traded his way from a paperclip to a house, Boi hatches his own trading plan starting with a tiny clay cow he molded from river mud. Trade by trade, Boi and his best friend Potso discover that even though Cedarville lacks so many of the things that made the paperclip trade possible, it is fuller than either of them ever imagined.
In a chain of events that turns Boi's tiny spark into a warming fire, Boi learns the power of friendship and community, and finds that something’s value isn’t in what you can trade for it, but in the good it brings to the people you love.
In a chain of events that turns Boi's tiny spark into a warming fire, Boi learns the power of friendship and community, and finds that something’s value isn’t in what you can trade for it, but in the good it brings to the people you love.
188 pages, Hardcover
First published June 14, 2022
55 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 2, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Boipelo lives in Cedarville, a small village in South Africa. Since the local cheese factory shut down, it's hard for people to find work. His father often travels long distances to take jobs in order to support him and his grandmother. Boi is lucky enough to go to school with his best friend, Potso. The two aren't fond of their homes, which are two room structures built in the 1990s by the government. When reading foreign magazines to his grandmother, who struggles with vision issues, Boi gets a glimpse of what like is like in other places, and learns about Kyle McDonald, a Canadian who managed to trade a paperclip for other items that eventually ended up with a new house for him in 20006. Boi wants to try this, but he and Potso have little to thei names. Boi makes a clay cow from river clay and trades it for a two liter bottle of soda at the local store. His trades are sometimes hampered by his desire to help people, and don't always go as well as he would like. When he tries to trade a chicken for a DVD set, his attempts at cooking it fail, so he doesn't have either the chicken or the DVDs to trade. Luckily, he has gotten some media coverage for his attempts to change his circumstances, and while he is working odd jobs to make money to replace the chicken and start trading again, he gets some news that improves life not only for him but for many people in his village.
Strengths: The details of every day life in a village in South Africa are fascinating. Boi talks very matter-of-factly about the sorts of things he eats (porridge with sour milk), the kinds of activities he and Potso do, and what life is like for the other people in Cedarville. There is a young mother who has to travel long distances to work and has to leave her young daughter at day care, several elderly locals who struggle with health issues, and local business owners who are struggling to hold on. The reasons behind his attempts to trade his cow for various items so he can get a new home are realistically protrayed, and the fact that things didn't quite go to plan but ended up fairly well was heartwarming. There are funny parts to the story, a bit of romance with Boi's crush, Sesi, and a lot of examples of people working together for the good of their community, which was good to see. Even though some of the circumstances seem dire to a Western mindset, they are all portrayed in a neutral light-- this is just the way things are. It's hard to describe; some books paint dire circumstances as overly rosy, and point out that people can persevere even when things are terrible, and others paint them as just endlessly bad, but this lays out the realities of Boi's life, shows how he copes with them, and details his attempts to try to change them. There are no saviors, but there are people who help him along the way, and there are some small steps to imporved living conditions because of Boi's efforts.
Weaknesses: Ms. Krone is not Black, and it would be great to see stories written by and about Black South Africans. We are starting to see a few such stories coming to the US, like Nwaubani's Nigerian Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree, Ochieng's Kenyan Playing a Dangerous Game and Ghanaian writer Beatie's Crossing the Stream, but there are still not enough. It's difficult to get titles from other parts of the world, so while we are waiting for more Black African writers to be represented, I think that Krone's work is well done and researched. One of our 7th grade language arts teachers does a study of Noah's Born a Crime, so Small Mercies has been a popular title with her students, in order to see more examples of life in South Africa.
What I really think: This is an interesting look at everyday life in South Africa that will be relevatory to my suburban US readers who often don't know what life is like in other parts of the world. Definitely purchasing, and checking to see if this publisher has other titles I need to know about.
Boipelo lives in Cedarville, a small village in South Africa. Since the local cheese factory shut down, it's hard for people to find work. His father often travels long distances to take jobs in order to support him and his grandmother. Boi is lucky enough to go to school with his best friend, Potso. The two aren't fond of their homes, which are two room structures built in the 1990s by the government. When reading foreign magazines to his grandmother, who struggles with vision issues, Boi gets a glimpse of what like is like in other places, and learns about Kyle McDonald, a Canadian who managed to trade a paperclip for other items that eventually ended up with a new house for him in 20006. Boi wants to try this, but he and Potso have little to thei names. Boi makes a clay cow from river clay and trades it for a two liter bottle of soda at the local store. His trades are sometimes hampered by his desire to help people, and don't always go as well as he would like. When he tries to trade a chicken for a DVD set, his attempts at cooking it fail, so he doesn't have either the chicken or the DVDs to trade. Luckily, he has gotten some media coverage for his attempts to change his circumstances, and while he is working odd jobs to make money to replace the chicken and start trading again, he gets some news that improves life not only for him but for many people in his village.
Strengths: The details of every day life in a village in South Africa are fascinating. Boi talks very matter-of-factly about the sorts of things he eats (porridge with sour milk), the kinds of activities he and Potso do, and what life is like for the other people in Cedarville. There is a young mother who has to travel long distances to work and has to leave her young daughter at day care, several elderly locals who struggle with health issues, and local business owners who are struggling to hold on. The reasons behind his attempts to trade his cow for various items so he can get a new home are realistically protrayed, and the fact that things didn't quite go to plan but ended up fairly well was heartwarming. There are funny parts to the story, a bit of romance with Boi's crush, Sesi, and a lot of examples of people working together for the good of their community, which was good to see. Even though some of the circumstances seem dire to a Western mindset, they are all portrayed in a neutral light-- this is just the way things are. It's hard to describe; some books paint dire circumstances as overly rosy, and point out that people can persevere even when things are terrible, and others paint them as just endlessly bad, but this lays out the realities of Boi's life, shows how he copes with them, and details his attempts to try to change them. There are no saviors, but there are people who help him along the way, and there are some small steps to imporved living conditions because of Boi's efforts.
Weaknesses: Ms. Krone is not Black, and it would be great to see stories written by and about Black South Africans. We are starting to see a few such stories coming to the US, like Nwaubani's Nigerian Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree, Ochieng's Kenyan Playing a Dangerous Game and Ghanaian writer Beatie's Crossing the Stream, but there are still not enough. It's difficult to get titles from other parts of the world, so while we are waiting for more Black African writers to be represented, I think that Krone's work is well done and researched. One of our 7th grade language arts teachers does a study of Noah's Born a Crime, so Small Mercies has been a popular title with her students, in order to see more examples of life in South Africa.
What I really think: This is an interesting look at everyday life in South Africa that will be relevatory to my suburban US readers who often don't know what life is like in other parts of the world. Definitely purchasing, and checking to see if this publisher has other titles I need to know about.
April 27, 2022
Culture, life lessons, wit, and good-natured fun are masterfully woven into a warm-hearted tale, which will keep you in the pages until the very end.
Boi lives with his grandmother and father in their very small, two room house. They survive, but it's hard. When he stumbles on the story of a man trading a paperclip up to a house, he's determined to see if he can do the same. With clay from the river, he forms a makeshift cow and announces his hope to trade it for something...anything with a bit of value. The trading soon takes the strangest twists and turns, and the direction it goes proves much richer than any house could ever be.
This book holds quite a few themes, making it a very versatile read. First, it takes a look at South Africa and touches lightly upon the apartheid, history, and circumstances it's caused. There is a short section, before the story begins, which explains all of this briefly but well enough to give readers a foothold before diving into the tale. While the story follows Boi and his trading adventure, the details of the town, people, and daily life mold in effortlessly and give the reader a very good glimpse at life in this area. So, this is a great read to also use when exploring this area of the world.
Next, is the heart of the tale. Boi's determination to help his family is inspiring. The friendliness and connection of the community is also palpable. Yet, it's not perfect, which lets the sparks of kindness pop out even more. Boi learns that decisions can mean more than it appears and grows with each choice.
Lastly, the tale is simply fun. Boi is easy to connect with and has an engaging personality. He struggles with usual problems such as parents, friendship, and peers and has very normal worries and fears. And these do come across familiar even when they take place under different circumstances and living conditions. There's always something happening, keeping boredom away, and it's impossible to guess what's going to happen next on the trading end because this does sprout in the oddest ways.
Not only is this one a nice read (and not overly long), but it can also be used for classrooms, homeschoolers, or other group themes.
I received an ARC and enjoyed the weave of culture, story and more.
Boi lives with his grandmother and father in their very small, two room house. They survive, but it's hard. When he stumbles on the story of a man trading a paperclip up to a house, he's determined to see if he can do the same. With clay from the river, he forms a makeshift cow and announces his hope to trade it for something...anything with a bit of value. The trading soon takes the strangest twists and turns, and the direction it goes proves much richer than any house could ever be.
This book holds quite a few themes, making it a very versatile read. First, it takes a look at South Africa and touches lightly upon the apartheid, history, and circumstances it's caused. There is a short section, before the story begins, which explains all of this briefly but well enough to give readers a foothold before diving into the tale. While the story follows Boi and his trading adventure, the details of the town, people, and daily life mold in effortlessly and give the reader a very good glimpse at life in this area. So, this is a great read to also use when exploring this area of the world.
Next, is the heart of the tale. Boi's determination to help his family is inspiring. The friendliness and connection of the community is also palpable. Yet, it's not perfect, which lets the sparks of kindness pop out even more. Boi learns that decisions can mean more than it appears and grows with each choice.
Lastly, the tale is simply fun. Boi is easy to connect with and has an engaging personality. He struggles with usual problems such as parents, friendship, and peers and has very normal worries and fears. And these do come across familiar even when they take place under different circumstances and living conditions. There's always something happening, keeping boredom away, and it's impossible to guess what's going to happen next on the trading end because this does sprout in the oddest ways.
Not only is this one a nice read (and not overly long), but it can also be used for classrooms, homeschoolers, or other group themes.
I received an ARC and enjoyed the weave of culture, story and more.
August 24, 2022
“ My name is Boipelo, which means proud. If proud is that quiet, warm feeling you carry deep in your heart, when you know you’ve been a part of something good, then maybe it is the right name for me.” From the very first two sentences I just knew that this book is going to be a special one.
The rural areas of the Eastern Cape in South-Africa is often a sad and rather harsh place to grow up in and not exactly where one would expect to find a lovely feel good story. "The Cedarville Shop and the wheelbarrow swop" by Bridget Krone is however exactly that despite showing the realities of this life without trying to cotton candy the situation.
Boiphelo and Putso are best friends and share their days together in the streets and school in Cedarville. Both of them do not have much to go home to and both their families scrape by on meagre resources. The cheese factory that was the only reliable employer in the village has closed down leaving a village with no future. Boiphelo happens on an article in a magazine that tells the story of Kyle MacDonald who swopped a paper clip for a house by upgrading the value of the item with each swop. Just there he decides on doing his own version by starting with a clay cow he makes. As he trades item for item he makes some decisions that are not always the most sensible and that his friend Putso does not necessarily agree with leading to a rift between the two boys. Boi tends to make some decisions with his heart rather than his mind. There is also Sesi that Boi so eagerly want to impress. As the story gets noticed by the local press a set of events follow that helps our heroes to grow up and acknowledge their faults and place in this little town. It is a local coming of age story that illustrated the value of friendship and personal growth.
The language in the book is simple and very readable for young readers at around 12 years and older but is still absolutely beautiful. I loved this on page 114 “ The sound of Egyptian geese distracted me and I looked up to see three of them flying above me. They were so low I could hear the lovely clean whap-whap sound of their wings. A sound that rinses out your insides like a swill of clean water. The author’s notes and glossary makes the book accessible to a worldwide audience and is very hand to refer to.
This little gem of a book has totally grabbed my heart and I would recommend it not only for teens but also for adults as it is so well written. Read it – we all need to read or hear a story like this."
The rural areas of the Eastern Cape in South-Africa is often a sad and rather harsh place to grow up in and not exactly where one would expect to find a lovely feel good story. "The Cedarville Shop and the wheelbarrow swop" by Bridget Krone is however exactly that despite showing the realities of this life without trying to cotton candy the situation.
Boiphelo and Putso are best friends and share their days together in the streets and school in Cedarville. Both of them do not have much to go home to and both their families scrape by on meagre resources. The cheese factory that was the only reliable employer in the village has closed down leaving a village with no future. Boiphelo happens on an article in a magazine that tells the story of Kyle MacDonald who swopped a paper clip for a house by upgrading the value of the item with each swop. Just there he decides on doing his own version by starting with a clay cow he makes. As he trades item for item he makes some decisions that are not always the most sensible and that his friend Putso does not necessarily agree with leading to a rift between the two boys. Boi tends to make some decisions with his heart rather than his mind. There is also Sesi that Boi so eagerly want to impress. As the story gets noticed by the local press a set of events follow that helps our heroes to grow up and acknowledge their faults and place in this little town. It is a local coming of age story that illustrated the value of friendship and personal growth.
The language in the book is simple and very readable for young readers at around 12 years and older but is still absolutely beautiful. I loved this on page 114 “ The sound of Egyptian geese distracted me and I looked up to see three of them flying above me. They were so low I could hear the lovely clean whap-whap sound of their wings. A sound that rinses out your insides like a swill of clean water. The author’s notes and glossary makes the book accessible to a worldwide audience and is very hand to refer to.
This little gem of a book has totally grabbed my heart and I would recommend it not only for teens but also for adults as it is so well written. Read it – we all need to read or hear a story like this."
February 22, 2022
A story about Boi and Potso, who are bored, frustrated, and poor. One day Boi hears about the paperclip swap that led to a house, and decides to start his own version with Potso's help. With a set-up like this, it could so easily be cloying or sentimental. It could so so easily veer into didactic lesson-teaching. But it doesn't. The boys are realistically and convincingly drawn. Their home village of Cedarville is full of interesting characters but also of people who are living right on the edge of survival with hopes and dreams of their own. They care for each other, and they resolutely move on when there is something that cannot be helped. It's an interesting mix of humor and deep practicality that is somehow transported by Boi's quixotic quest. I expect to see the word heartwarming applied often and with sincerity, because it is, indeed, a heartwarming story. It's also a funny and hopeful one, with some great friendship dynamics.
When I say that the characters are realistically and convincingly drawn, please note that I am a White American reader, and the author is a White South African woman, so honestly I have no idea how realistic or convincing these two Black boys would be to people who would know better. I found it to be an enjoyable read, one that showed me a very different day-to-day life than the one I know, and I appreciated it.
Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.
When I say that the characters are realistically and convincingly drawn, please note that I am a White American reader, and the author is a White South African woman, so honestly I have no idea how realistic or convincing these two Black boys would be to people who would know better. I found it to be an enjoyable read, one that showed me a very different day-to-day life than the one I know, and I appreciated it.
Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.
November 7, 2022
While the title is a bit cumbersome, the story is not. In this story, Boipelo learns of a Canadian man who in a series of trades goes from a paperclip to a house. Boipelo is inspired, and this is his trading tale. Trading is not at all what he (or I) expected! I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The characters are relatable and likeable. There is a strong sense of place here, and I enjoyed reading about life in one part of South Africa.
January 13, 2023
A sweet book
May 25, 2024
I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommended it to my teachers. It would make a fabulous read aloud or book club book to discuss the choices that are made. Grades 4 and up
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews