Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood By Trevor Noah
Reviewed by: Melissa Friedlund, Reference Assistant
Genre: Autobiography
Suggested Age: Adult
What is the book about? Trevor Noah, the host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, was born in South Africa just before the end of apartheid when the act of conceiving an interracially mixed child was punishable with prison time. Being the son of a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother, Noah was literally “born a crime.” This book is a collection of essays that Noah has written showcasing a wide variety of events during his unusual upbringing. With his unconventional mother, Noah navigates his way through South Africa’s post-apartheid society using creative and sometimes legal solutions for his struggles.
My Review: I listened to the CD book that is narrated by the author, which I enjoyed quite a bit. Noah’s sharp wit and self-effacing humor is quickly evident while listening. There is a “young reader” version that cuts back on the mature content and is appropriate for grades 5-12. As is, the adult version is funny, surprising, and sometimes a little disturbing. His firsthand account of living with poverty and institutional racism are sobering at times. His mother seems to be an extraordinarily astute person whose parental instincts armed him with skills like fluency in the languages of South Africa’s many ethnic groups. Along with a discerning intellect, he was able to be a chameleon of sorts. I was particularly impressed with how he found a way to move in and around the racial cliques in high school (none of which he could fit into easily) in order to avoid the dangers of identifying himself as any specific racial class. The only criticism I would have for the book is that being a collection of essays, the subject matter and timing of events jumped around a bit. Overall, it was an insightful read.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Post-Apartheid, Multicultural, Eye-Opening
Give This a Try if You Like…The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Unbowed: A Memoir, Notes from a Young Black Chef
Rating: 4.5/5