'A thought-provoking and unusual first novel which reflects
a real concern for the victims of a harsh rule.'
- The Times Literary Supplement -
'The reaction of Candy's family and friends to the growing
tie between the girls is treated with something of Becky's
sardonic humour, and a sympathetic understanding
of the multifarious conflicts involved.'
- The Guardian -
'Toeckey Jones' book could be an extremely helpful
introduction to further reading about South Africa
for readers of any age.'
- The Friend -
Meeting by chance in a public park in Johannesburg in 1976, Candy and Becky immediately know they want to be friends. But from the start, their friendship is challenged by external forces. For the two teenagers are living in Apartheid South Africa, and Candy is White and Becky is Black. Not only do they have to contend with the racist laws of the country that restrict how and where they can meet; they also have to cope with the prejudiced attitudes of family and other people around them.
Can their friendship survive? Is it even possible for them to relate as friends on an equal basis when everything between them is so unequal? It seems increasingly unlikely. But when Soweto, the Black shanty township where Becky lives, erupts in huge riots against Apartheid and Becky's life is endangered, both Candy and Becky are forced to re-evaluate their feelings for each other and to what lengths they are prepared to go to continue their friendship.
Although 'Go Well, Stay Well' is set in South Africa, its exploration of the true meaning of friendship transcends time and place.
'Go Well, Stay Well' was first published by The Bodley Head in 1979 to international acclaim. It was translated into half a dozen languages, and won The Silver Pencil Award in Holland, the Meilleur Livre Loisirs Jeunes Award in France, and The Juveniles Book Award in Germany. The American edition, published by Harper and Row, also became a bestseller. This is a new edition.
