A powerful novel set in Johannesburg in 1976 offers four different points of view on the same historical events. Central to the story are Zanele, a Black South African teenage girl who is active in the liberation movement, and Meena, an East Indian girl who is just becoming radicalized and wants to be part of the liberation movement. Their lives intertwine with each other’s and with those of Thebo, a Black South African teenage boy who is a gang member and not politically active, and of Jack, a privileged white boy who falls in love with Zanele. Jack would do anything he could to help her succeed, even though she doesn’t particularly want or need his help. Zanele is a charismatic character, and all three of the others are drawn to her. Each teen is interesting and credible as readers see the same events from four very different perspectives. The point of view changes frequently, and keeps the pace moving along quickly, building to a resolution that will have readers on the edge of their seats. (Age 14 and older)

It's 1976 in South Africa

In the black township of Soweto, Zanele, who also works as a nightclub singer, is plotting against the apartheid government. The police can't know. Her mother and sister can't know. No one can know. On the affluent white side of town, Jack Craven plans to spend the last days of his break before university burning miles on his beat-up Mustang, and crashing other people's parties.

Their chance meeting changes everything. Already a chain of events is in motion; a failed plot, a murdered teacher, a powerful police agent with a vendetta, and a secret network of students across the township. The students will rise. And there will be violence when morning comes.

Introducing readers to a remarkable young literary talent, When Morning Comes offers an impeccably researched and vivid snapshot of South African society on the eve of the uprising that changed it forever.