Thanks so much to Penguin Teen for gifting me an e-copy of this #ownvoices historical fiction novel! When The Ground Is Hard recently won the LA Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature, and in my opinion, it was very well-deserved. This story is set in Swaziland—today, the country is called Eswatini—in the 1960's, during apartheid. Personally, I know I have a lot to learn about apartheid (anyone else have 11 years of U.S. history taught in your schools, and only 1 year for world?) so my attention was instantly captured when Adele described the customs and norms of this Christian school.

It was so interesting to see the world through Adele's eyes, as someone who had benefited from the economically- and racially-based hierarchy of the school for years before she was ousted. She truly believed the cruel and unfair judgments she made at the beginning of the book, and only her friendship with Lottie was able to change her mind. Lottie and Adele had the most wholesome relationship ever, built upon their love of books and their dislike of the school bullies. Not that they didn't have their share of prejudices and disagreements, but this conflict made their story arcs more realistic and meaningful.

The plot does slow down at parts, so you need to go into it prepared for its contemplative pacing. And I did wish that Adele's relationship with her brother had been more prominently featured in the book, especially since her concerns about her father's devotion to their family were brought up frequently.

My favorite part of the book was how it conveyed the injustices of apartheid on a micro level. Adele and Lottie weren't trying to overthrow the system in their country, or even their school. Rather, you get to witness how one girl leads another girl to be more open-minded, and it gives you hope for the future.

Every now and then you read a book that is an utter surprise and delight. This book was so good right from the start that I read this in one sitting. I love following these girls throughout their school year. In this story, so many assumptions are made about people based on their class, and those judgments transferred from the parents to their children. What I found so beautiful in this story was watching these two girls, who were seemingly enemies having grown up in very different economic situations, go through the school year together, and really getting to know one another. Through the time they spend together, they realize the assumptions they both held of one another was completely wrong, and the most beautiful friendship forms and it just warms your heart in such a big way. I just loved everything about this story. I didn't hear much about this boo, but it most definitely deserved way more buzz than it received.

This is a story about Adele, a mixed-race girl growing up in the 1960's in Swaziland. She attends a boarding school with other mixed-race children, where she is popular and enjoys the benefits of her family's economic status. However, this year, things change when she is cast out of the popular group and forced to roommate with Lottie, a troublemaker from a poor family. While Adele is not happy with this development at first, this book follows the growth of her friendship with Lottie, as the girls learn about each other and themselves, and begin to come to grips with the various hierarchies and social expectations operating within their boarding school, and indeed, Apartheid-era Swaziland as a whole.
I really enjoyed this book. Adele and Lottie warmed my heart, and I loved watching their friendship grow and force Adele to grow along the way. The story covers so much ground without ever feeling like it was crammed or dragging on. Somehow, it packs the punch of exploring race, class, ability, family, heritage, pride, compassion and shame, all wrapped up in a package with the comfort and warmth of small moments, like two girls sharing cookies and reading a book together by candlelight.
I definitely recommend this book for YA readers who would like to read about a time and place and people not often represented in YA coming of age stories.

When the Ground is Hard is set in 1960s South Africa during Apartheid, and details the unlikely friendship of two teenage girls from different backgrounds. It’s narrated by 16-year-old Adele Joubert, a biracial girl from a middle-class Swazi family. She is one of the popular girls at her Christian boarding school, and likes it that way. The social dynamics of Adele’s school are heavily influenced by race and class, something that she doesn’t realize until her friends randomly decide one day to stop hanging out with her. Friendships are perhaps the most important part of a teenager’s life, and they tend to be as fragile as they are influential, and I appreciate that Nunn expounds on that to make social commentary. The exploration of the role of race and socioeconomic status in society through the friendship dynamics of 16-year-old girls will undoubtedly make such issues understandable (and relatable) to a wide range of readers. Nunn doesn’t shy away from describing how terrible high school girls are capable of being to each other; I was a high school girl not too long ago and I know it all too well. Once at school, Adele is dismayed to learn that she is to be rooming with the school pariah Lottie (in a room that a former student died in, no less). Lottie is a Jewish girl from a poor family who is openly defiant of authority and has an overall gruff exterior. At first, Adele resolves to simply avoid Lottie at all costs (not easy, of course, when you share living space with someone), but soon the girls bond over the classic novel Jane Eyre. I loved seeing not only Adele and Lottie put their differences aside, but begin to rub off on each other. From Lottie, Adele learns to be honest and assertive, and from Adele, Lottie learns to be sweet and patient.

When the Ground is Hard is a story about friendship that I believe will transcend generations. Teenagers and adults alike will enjoy this book, and the messages about relationships, privilege, and unity are universal. While I wish I were afforded the opportunity to see the world through Lottie’s eyes and not just Adele’s, reading about Adele acknowledging her privilege and own her biases was certainly worthwhile. Overall, Nunn packs a powerful punch in this little novel.

This is the BEST young adult book I’ve read in quite a while!! Set in a boarding school for mixed race children in 1960s South Africa during apartheid, we see an unlikely friendship develop when two girls of different social and economic standing are unexpectedly thrown together. Bonded by various circumstances and a copy of Jane Eyre, this tremendously powerful story of friendship took me by complete surprise! I had no idea what my heart and soul were in for when I began to read this and I’m so grateful for the beautiful, heartbreaking and heart building storytelling Malla Nunn delivered. This moving novel absolutely deserves the LA Times Book Prize Award it won.

Great story of life and friendship set in East Africa. I haven't read many YA books set in Africa so I was thrilled to see this one and I gobbled it up! Such a beautiful story - Adele and Lottie reading Jane Eyre together was just so heartwarming. I am definitely glad I found their story. It made me want to read a classic novel with a dear friend so we can learn about each other as we lose ourselves in great literature together.

4,5*
Pros: Incredible writing style and narrative. Fierce PoC leads, and rare enough, mixed-race leads. Important and detailed PoV of the living conditions in African countries that used to be colonies, including outlooks into poverty, sexism, colorism, elitism and many others. Outstanding take on the complexity of parenthood. Introduces Swazi culture and traditions.
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Cons: In terms of plot, it could've accomplished much more.

This story takes place at a Swaziland religious boarding school where the protagonist Adele Joubert was once one of the popular good girls, but (as the story opens) she’s now forced to share a room with the less fortunate Lottie, the school pariah, who doesn’t always follow the rules.

The book manages to convey the complexity of teen female friendships, as well as the prejudices suffered by white vs. black vs. mixed race peoples in this part of Africa. A set of prejudices that can be found other places.

On top of which, there’s the peer pressure Adele feels as a mixed race child whose mother is involved with a married, white man. That’s why Adele is able to afford nice things. Plus her mother, who’s chosen to ally herself to an unavailable man, wishes the best kind of future for Adele. So she encourages her to follow the rules, smile, and play nice (no matter what). Which puts more than just peer pressure on our protagonist.

However, despite the odds, Adele and Lottie end up bonding. This bond takes root (ironically or not) while the two girls jointly read Jane Eyre. So, along with the multitude of themes this book touches on, it also conveys the point that literature brings us together.

And I’m just scratching the surface here. 🙂

This Edgar-nominated story is absolutely fantastic. I highly recommend it.