Hector: A Boy, a Protest, and the Photograph That Changed Apartheid

Gr 2-5--This is the partly fictionalized story of 12-year-old Hector Pieterson, one of the first children shot and killed by police on June 16, 1976, in Soweto-South Africa's largest black township-during a student protest march. His death triggered a months-long uprising and the start of a new era in the struggle against apartheid. The story stems from a photograph taken by journalist Sam Nzima, which shows Hector being carried by Mbuyisa Makhubu with Hector's half-sister Antoinette Sithole running alongside them. The story is told from three viewpoints: Hector's, Sithole's, and Nzima's. Hector is seen playing with his younger sister, visiting his grandma, and then caught in the march that protested students having to learn subjects in Afrikaans, seen as "the language of oppression." More of a chronological news report than a narrative with an emotional arc, the story's impact is limited. The pastel and collage illustrations depict township life as stripped down to the essentials. The author conducted careful research, including personal interviews with Sithole and Nzima. There is an extensive bibliography, glossary, biographical sketches, and detailed acknowledgments. However, the historical context presented is inadequate for the projected audience. Some of the historical details are inaccurate at worst and misleading at best. VERDICT The book's audience is unclear: while a more extended treatment of the subject might be appropriate for older readers, the format and presentation are clearly geared to younger ones. In the hands of a knowledgeable teacher, it could be used to supplement curriculum materials.-Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York

Wright tells the true story behind the famed photograph taken of Hector Pieterson, a 12-year-old who was shot by police during a 1976 protest against apartheid in South Africa. Prior to the erupting discord and violence, it's an ordinary weekend for Hector ("On Saturday afternoons, Hector and his friends love watching movies at the nearby church"). Readers gain clues about how the community is impacted by apartheid through a "non-whites only" sign that Hector and his friends adhere to. Sequential panels transition into spreads as he is drawn into a student march; soon, police gunfire erupts. Wright switches to Hector's older sister Antoinette's point of view as she witnesses the shooting amid tear gas. And the final chapter is told from the perspective of photographer Sam Nzima, who snaps a photograph of the child's body being carried by a teenage boy. Wright's deliberately paced, highly visual narrative captures a traumatic moment with piercing clarity and doesn't shy from including the photograph upon which the story is based. Back matter further describes the complicated political circumstances that would result in the deaths of Hector and other innocent civilians. Ages 8-11. (June)

* "A tragic but inspiring story about an event in South Africa's history that must never be forgotten."
- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Nzima's powerful photograph—the one that caught the world's attention—is distinct yet seamlessly integrated in this unique account." - Booklist, starred review

"Wright's deliberately paced, highly visual narrative captures a traumatic moment with piercing clarity and doesn't shy from including the photograph upon which the story is based." - Publishers Weekly