Jesse’s Story by Fiona Macgregor - reviewed by Mrs Kieswetter

This is a story about Jesse, a fourteen year old boy who loves rugby, skating and music and attends a co-ed school in Cape Town. His best friend is Promise and he fancies a girl called Luce. Friendship is one of the themes of the story and being set in Cape Town it has a local flavour with words like lekker and bru being used.
On his way home one evening, Jesse is mugged and this turns his life upside down. (He is helped by a bergie and this makes him examine his attitude towards them.) How he copes with this ordeal -his fear, anger and relationships - forms an important part of the story.
This is an easy South African story that boys should enjoy, especially reluctant readers. Don’t be put off by the cover which is a bit like a text book and don’t be put off by the notes and activities section at the back of the book. These are there in case the book is ever used as class reader.