Born A Crime by Trevor Noah

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Justification

When Trevor Noah took over The Daily Show in 2014, I thought he was absolutely hilarious and a perfect host. One of my teaching partners created a lesson from the first chapter of Born A Crime and the students absolutely loved it. I read along with them for a few chapters and then we moved on. When I realized Noah was narrating his own book, I immediately purchased a copy and listened every time I was in the car.

Response

(c) Trevor Noah's Born a Crime was a delight to listen to. His sense of humor shines in the text and audio. It was incredible to listen to his story along with being very informational about the nature of apartheid in South Africa. His life explains his comedy style--how he coped with being mixed at a time when being so was illegal, the injustices that were faced every day, and how his mother prepared him for it. Born a Crime is a journey you get to ride along with that provides an incredible amount of historical and political information without ever being boring or dry.

(f) Again, the text as a whole is enjoyable, whether you read or listen. Noah writes well and has a talent for storytelling that is unmatched. 

Conclusion

It is important to note that the audiobook version is not available for the young reader version of Noah's book. I wish that it was, as it made the story even more heartfelt and engaging. Noah's impressions of his family were hilarious and provided so much characterization and insight into his life. With that being said, the audiobook is not suitable for young readers due to a good amount of cursing. The young reader version is edited for suitability and is also enjoyable to read. I think it makes a great companion text when discussing apartheid and South Africa.

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