Subtle parallels between Emily's family and apartheid South Africa provide great depth and meaning to this somber, sensitive, exquisitely narrated story for mature readers. Tragically, Emily's world is torn apart, but Buza helps provide the glue that holds her together. in too many pieces" when she discovers her mother is having an affair and suspects Mr. Emily and Sarah are soon distracted with ragamuffin Streak and retarded Otis Mallory. Out of nowhere, the rootless Mallorys arrive in their bedraggled camping trailer, bringing danger and discontent. Ignored by her selfish mother and detached father, Emily turns to the old Zulu night watchman Buza, who comforts her with his stories of courage and strength. Emily compares her family to Johannesburg-an illusion held together with dust. Twelve-year-old tomboy Emily lives in Johannesburg with her older sister Sarah and their self-absorbed, sparring parents. Recommended for readers aged 14 and up (officially, the publisher says 12 and up)."A spring visit from a vagabond family ends in disaster for two white girls and their family in apartheid South Africa in 1966. If youre like me, youll come away from it feeling sad and deflated. Intertwined with the story of this dysfunctional family are observations about Apartheid and racism. But even Buza cannot help when Otis attraction to Sarah turns into something dark and uncontrollable. Otis is the older brother and he is mentally handicapped.Įmily often turns to Buza, their old Zulu night watchman, for comfort, strength, and stories. Streak is the younger one and he and Emily develop a tenuous friendship that both of them seem to both run from and to. But it is the boys that ultimately impact Emilys family. The father is boisterous and the mother fairly quiet. The girls are the ones caught in the crossfire.Ī family comes to stay in a camper.
These transient visitors provide (usually) a somewhat welcome respite from the tension that builds between the two adults. The parents distract themselves from their problems by letting strangers frequently camp out or live with them. Their father is a presence barely felt in the home at all. Their mother is a faded beauty living in the past and emotionally distant from her failing marriage. Theirs is a damaged and dysfunctional family, though the sisters love each other. Shes twelve, and her sister Sarah is fifteen. Set in South Africa during Apartheid (1960s), this is a story told by Emily. Its a beautifully evocative story and told well by the author, Linzi Glass.
Im not really sure why, to tell you the truth. Its taken me a long time to write up the review for The Year the Gypsies Came.
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