The Strollers

by Lesley Beake

This account of life on the streets of Cape Town won the Sir Percy Fitzpatrick Award in 1988. His seven older brothers have all left home, and now there's just Johnny, Ma and her bullying second husband. So Johnny begins the life of a stroller - begging on the street, sleeping where he can.

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Lesley Beake has been involved with writing and editing children’s stories for twenty years now and has published nearly seventy books. All her stories are set in Africa and are rich in African imagery and landscape. They vary from picture books for the very young, to novels for teenagers, with a good spread of stories for all ages in between.

Much of her work involves writing for readers who are reading in English as their second, third, or even fourth language. The challenge of corresponding a reading level with an interest level is helped by her background in primary school teaching and in teaching English as a Foreign Language in the Middle East for the British Council.

Lesley also has a wide portfolio of travel writing, radio broadcasting and website work. She was editor of two major South African travel publications and of the Air Malawi in-flight magazine and currently manages and edits a website for San communities at www.kalaharipeoples.net.

Her books have been translated into numerous languages, worldwide and in Africa, and she has received many awards for her books. But the greatest satisfaction comes with meeting the young people who actually read her books – and in typing the last word of the manuscript in hand!

Reviews

[Raeleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an amazing look into the life of a homeless person and the struggles youth face in a homeless environment. I loved that there were still small joys that the group found together although this book is heartbreaking it is so educational and eye opening. Years later I still think about this book.