Mandela and the General by John Carlin and Oriol Malet - ESSENTIAL

Mandela and the General by John Carlin, illustrated by Oriol Malet, 106 pages, NON-FICTION GRAPHIC NOVEL. Plough Publishing House. 2018. $20. 9780874868203

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content PG; Violence: PG-13 (depictions of racist violence)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

A true story covered by John Carlin when he was a foreign correspondent, this book covers the end of apartheid as South Africa is poised on the knife’s edge of all-out war. Mandela knows he can’t avert a bloodbath without meeting up with his arch enemy, Constand Viljoen, who is leading the white, well-armed militias. The two meet in secret to determine the future of a nation and countless lives. 

This is a timely read when it seems political rhetoric and fear mongering take the place of civil discourse. Mandela’s comment, “We need to find a way that will reconcile your people’s understandable fears with my people’s legitimate aspirations,” is insightful. Carlin captures the emotions of this time period in a carefully written, concise format that demonstrates the value of empathy. 

Michelle in the Middle