This book reads like a magical fairytale full of South African mythical figures and magical realism. Talking animals, women who are transformed into evil wicked witches, bullies who surprise you in a good way, and children who set out on an adventure to save the world from darkness.

Nolitye lives in the Phola area of Johannesburg in a small shanty with her mother. She is smart, strong-willed and intent on taking on the challenge that is set in front of her when she finds a very special stone.

Nolitye, with her best friend Bheki and new friend Four Eyes, challenge bullies, face their fears of the dark and the unknown, and finally brave the underworld in search of the light needed to bring the world back together again.

Full of themes such as strength, unity, defying odds, fragmented families, poverty, love, and magic, The Hidden Star is ultimately a story of how we can accomplish great things if we believe in ourselves, despite the odds stacked against us.

The Hidden Star is a children’s book, probably for kids 10-14 (the main characters seem to be 11 or 12 years old), and it does sometimes read that way, but it doesn’t distract from how lovely this book is. I don’t usually go for this type of book naturally, but the synopsis intrigued me and I also thought it would be a great read for my #ReadAfrica2018 challenge.

I hadn’t heard about Kabelo Sello Duiker beforehand, but after reading the book I looked up more information about the writer. He sadly committed suicide in 2005, but there are two other books that he wrote and were published before his death that I must read. So sad that such a talented author is no longer amongst us, but I’m glad that this beautiful novel was not lost and was edited and published posthumously. There are some very important themes in it that we could all do with thinking more about.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy of this book!

The Hidden Star took a little time to really get into, but once I did it was well worth it. Maybe it was only because I was trying to read it with my 9 and 11 year old girls and it was a little different than what they are used to. But it is a magical tale set in a wonderful landscape that everyone should experience. Thank you so much for this brilliant work to read and review.

Journey deep into South Africa, where heroine Nolitye navigates life in a township of "squeezed-in shacks, dusty streets, shebeens and other small corner stores, and stray dogs." Nolitye, her friends Four Eyes, Bheki, and school bully Rotten Nellie are about 11-12 years old. The novel mixes elements of real life (school bullying, friendship, absent parents, disappearing children, rock collection) with magical realism (talking dogs and wildlife, evil witches, journey to a fantasy world, magical powers).

The themes here are potent: family; community; youth power and heroics; ancient cultural wisdom; good vs. evil; persistence. Magical elements resonate throughout scenery, culture, and myths of South Africa. Fans of the HARRY POTTER series, or Tomi Adeyemi's CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE will likely savor this adventure. A solid choice for middle-grades or even HS classroom discussion.

Prizewinning author K. Sello Duiker (who came of age in Soweto) is a masterful storyteller; the world is richer that this fairy-tale-like novel was edited (by Annari van der Merwe, one of the author's close friends) and published following the author's tragic death, too young, too soon.

Set in South Africa, a magical tale of Nolitye’s journey to find out how her father died. Nolitye likes to collect stones and one day fines a lonely aqua-purplish that speaks to her and thus begins her magical journey.