Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Books set in Africa


Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's topic is actually Best Bookish Memories but I knew I wouldn't be able to come close to ten so I decided to list ten books set in Africa. I've read most of them or else they are on my to read list. Two weeks ago was Top Ten Settings I'd Like to See More Of and a fair number of people included Africa or some country in Africa.
All images taken from goodreads; links lead either to Goodreads or to Amazon (twice).

Top Ten Books Set in Africa

1. At Her Majesty’s Request: an African princess in Victorian England
by Walter Dean Myers
cover of At Her Majesty’s Request: an African princess in Victorian England by Walter Dean Myers shows an African woman in a purple Victorian dress
I actually stumbled across this in the library today and it looked very interesting. This young girl was rescued from certain death, taken to England and presented to Queen Victoria, and then return to West Africa for a time before going back to England. A very dramatic story.

2. Faith Through Fire: Rwanda and Me 
by Randall Bennett
True story about a family I know that went through the Rwandan Genocide.

3. Faith Like Potatoes: the story of a farmer who risked everything for God
by Angus Buchan with Jan Greenough and Val Waldeck
cover of Faith Like Potatoes: the story of a farmer who risked everything for God by Angus Buchan with Jan Greenough and Val Waldeck shows a smiling Angus Buchan
Great book and great movie set mainly in South Africa but they also travel to other countries. Here's my review of the book from last summer.

4. The Golden Goblet
by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
cover of The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw shows an Egyptian boy looking over his shoulder while finding a goblet in a trunk
My mom read this aloud to us in middle school, great story set in ancient Egypt. It is a Newbery Honor book.

5. The Cat of Bubastes
by G.A. Henty
cover of The Cat of Bubastes  by G.A. Henty
I actually don't remember reading this (I have) but Henty writes amazing historical adventure stories for teens. He was a very prolific writer and if they had had best seller lists back then he would have been at the top of the charts many times. (Free Kindle ebook)

6. Lillian Trasher: The Greatest Wonder In Egypt
by Geoff & Janet Benge
cover of Lillian Trasher: The Greatest Wonder In Egypt by Geoff & Janet Benge
I have read a good number of missionary biographies but this was the first time I'd ever heard of Lillian Trasher. And what a story! She left her fiance to go to Egypt, opened an orphanage and had the same "last minute" answers to prayers like George Mueller, survived WWI in Egypt and during her life cared for thousands of orphans.

7. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope
by William Kamkwamba
cover of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba
This one is on my to read list and it's set in Malawi.

8. Going Solo
by Roald Dahl
cover of Going Solo by Roald Dahl
Read this in middle or high school and I still remember that I enjoyed it. Dahl mentions being in Kenya, Uganda, Egypt, Libya and maybe more, but those are the countries I spotted in a quick flip through.

9. Samuel Morris: The Apostle of Simple Faith
by W. Terry Whalin
cover of Samuel Morris: The Apostle of Simple Faith by W. Terry Whalin shows a portrait of Samuel Morris
I remember reading this in grade school or middle school and being astounded by his faith and perseverance. I know this story doesn't completely take place in Africa but it certainly starts there.

10. Escape from the Slave Traders
by Dave & Neta Jackson
cover of Escape from the Slave Traders by Dave & Neta Jackson shows a boy tied up by a tree asking another boy for help
I read probably close to twenty of the Trailblazer books growing up. The Jacksons create a fictional character that meets the missionary and the reader learns about him or her through the fictional character's eyes. This one is about David Livingstone.

What books set in Africa have you read?

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