Our Top 5 picks of African Novels for your teens

Reading is the foundation to all learning, encourage your teenagers to read these and they will be hooked. With the wealth of this fiction available and to whet their appetite and introduce them to young adult (YA) fiction from Africa, we have done some research on their behalf. Here are our top 5 picks 

The Mark by Edyth Bulbring 

Edyth Bulbring was born in Boksburg, South Africa and grew up in Port Elizabeth.

This dark dystopian novel is described by Sarah Lotz, internationally acclaimed author of The Three, and Day Four, as  "An entrancing, truly original novel packed with twists you won't see coming and a heroine that breaks the mould. Unputdownable." 

For more information, visit: 

https://www.news24.com/w24/popculture/entertainment/books/5-young-adult-south-african-books-that-feature-heroines-youll-love-20170615

Here are the opening lines to tempt you...

"My name is Juliet Seven. The date is 264 PC. This year, I am going to wipe out my father and my sister. And then I will off myself. The Machine will record that I lived for fifteen years, worked as a drudge, and that my last address was Room 33, Section D, Slum City. Everything I do this year was spoken of before I existed. And it will be written in the blood of those who survive me."

You can read this novel here: https://gifs.africa/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/English-The-Mark-by-Bulbring-Edyth.pdf

Crooks and Straights by Masha du Toit

Masha du Toit lives in Cape Town. Her genre is fantasy and science fiction.

News24 describes this as "a novel that combines unique African folklore and features an empowered heroine who uses her wits, courage and determination to fight against her system that threatens the lives of those closest to her". For more information, visit: 

https://www.news24.com/w24/popculture/entertainment/books/5-young-adult-south-african-books-that-feature-heroines-youll-love-20170615

For a review, visit: https://www.news24.com/w24/PopCulture/Entertainment/Books/book-review-crooks-and-straights-by-masha-du-toit-20160629-2

The Devil's Hill by Ngumi Kibera

Ngumi Kibera is a prolific Kenyan writer who lives in Nairobi. He loves weaving adventure stories for his favourite audience, teenagers.

Africanbookscollective.com tempts us with "Dani is gifted in all ways, yet he lives under the shadow of his hero, an old friend and a school dropout. The day he discovers a heap of money and a gun under a trap door in his friend's house, he realised his friend was no longer a mere bully but a member of a dangerous gang wanted for various crimes ranging from smuggling diamonds, carjacking to murder. This becomes the beginning of a nightmare that nearly costs Dani his life as well as that of another of his friends, Zack."  For more information, visit: https://www.africanbookscollective.com/books/the-devils-hill

When the Sea is Rising Red by Cat Hellisen

Cat Hellisen, the author of fantasy novels, was born and lives in Cape Town.

According to Google Books "After seventeen-year-old Felicita's dearest friend Ilven kills herself to escape an arranged marriage, Felicita chooses freedom over privilege. She fakes her own death and leaves her sheltered life as one of Pelimburg's magical elite behind.."  For more information, visit:

https://books.google.co.za/books/about/When_the_Sea_is_Rising_Red.html?id=TQl47y1riNAC&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y

For a review, visit: 

https://www.tor.com/2012/02/28/significant-choices-when-the-sea-is-rising-red-by-cat-hellisen/

Blood Ties by Zimkhitha Mlanzeli

Zimkhitha Mlanzeli, who grew up in Port Elizabeth, works full-time for FunDza in Cape Town mentoring other up-and-coming writers. Read more about her here: https://live.fundza.mobi/home/library/non-fiction-articles-profiles/zimkhitha-mlanzeli-writing-her-future/

Africanbookscollective.com introduces us to this novel with "Pholisa is coming to make a fresh start in Cape Town with her older brother Masi. Her old friend Lelethu is there to welcome her to Harmony High, where she meets the lovely Lazola, and romance is in the air. But at home Masi is becoming aggressive and moody, and Pholisa is worried about what he is doing late at night. When Masi spirals out of control, all of their lives are shattered, and Pholisa is forced to make one of the most difficult choices of her life, and face just how strong blood ties really are".  For more information, visit: https://www.africanbookscollective.com/books/blood-ties

Tale Of Tamari by Shimmer Chinodya 

Shimmer Chinodya was born in Gweru, Zimbabwe and currently lives in Harare. He studied English Literature and Education at the University of Zimbabwe and has won several literary awards. For more information about him, visit:  https://www.africanbookscollective.com/authors-editors/shimmer-chinodya

Africanbookscollective.com says "Tamari is fourteen. Her parents have died and she lives with her brother, Kuda, in their home where the rooms have been let to lodgers. Her Uncle Banda supposedly keeps an eye on them, but is more concerned about how much money he can make from the tenants. The Tale of Tamari is not a sad or didactic story, but one which delights us with its freshness and its empathy, besides giving us a richly varied slice of life in Zimbabwe today as orphans make their way into a future". For more information, visit:

https://www.africanbookscollective.com/books/tale-of-tamari

We hope the fiction listed here will start your teenager on a long, enjoyable journey down the road of young adult (YA) fiction from Africa. 

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