Age:
High School
Reading Level: 2.7
INTRODUCTION
Precious, a teenage South African girl, feels as if her life can’t possibly get worse. She hardly ever sees her best friend Raven any more. Tau, a boy in her classes, won't leave her alone.
Although her mother is Xhosa, Precious is tormented at school for being a foreigner because her father is Zimbabwean. With a weak mother and a father who tries too hard—or not enough—she relies on her Aunt Thati to be everything her parents aren’t.
Things start looking up, though, when Xanti, her crush and a true South African man, rents a room from her brother.
Xanti is helpful around the house, kind to her family, and even agrees to train her oldest brother to prepare to go into the forest, so he can become a man and a true South African.
But when Xanti's past starts seeping into her present, Precious doesn't know what to believe.
Was he involved with a criminal gang? Is her mother his mother too? Could he possibly be having an affair with her beloved Aunt Thati?
When her uncle storms back in from confronting her aunt, Precious can feel her life begin to crumble…
GLOSSARY
Xhosa - An ethnic group found in South Africa. Also the word for the language spoken by Xhosa people
Wors - Sausage
Mamela - Listen
Taxi-rank - A cab stand where young men hang out running errands for the cab drivers, hoping to be allowed to drive the cars at night, after work
Mkhuluwa - Elder brother; young man who is a mentor; a young man boys look to for guidance
Kwerekwere – Slur used when describing foreigners
Qotho- A combination of firm, strong, independent, and honorable. Comes from the sound a rock makes when it hits something and does not break
Muti- A potion given by South African witch doctors, believed to have magical powers.
Umfakazo – Evidence. A Zulu word
Qha – Only, done, enough. A word of exasperation.
Mxm – A click exclamation produced with the lips. It is used to show irritation or annoyance.
Kankati – A boy who becomes the leader in the group of boys in the forest going through the traditional Xhosa ritual of manhood.
Umgidi – Xhosa festival or party that is held when a boy returns from the Xhosa ritual of manhood. It is meant to welcome him back and celebrate his home coming.
Chapter 1
“She confessed to it!” her uncle said.
Xanti looked like he was about to speak. Her aunt was in the car, crying.
“No, she didn’t,” Precious quickly said. “Xanti did not sleep with her!”
Her uncle turned to her. He wanted to cry. “Afroz. You too?”
Her heart was broken right then, and she could not stop her own tears.
“Xanti did no such thing!” her mother said. “And I am going to have to ask you to leave if you will yell at our children like this!”
He stared, then he left. He did not close the door. He just drove off.
“What is the matter with you?” her father asked Xanti. “How could you do something like that?”
“Hai! He did not do it, qha!” her mother yelled, holding Xanti’s hand. “And we are not going to bring the dramas of other marriages into this family! We will have a peaceful night, and that’s it!”
Precious could not believe how cold her mother was. Did she not care about her aunt? Or her uncle?
