The Year the Gypsies Came

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Overview

Set in apartheid South Africa, this powerful and lyrically written novel is Linzi Glass's debut.

As twelve-year-old Emily Iris explains it, her mother and father have always been eager to take in travelers and vagabonds, relying on the presence of outsiders to ease the tension between them. Emily has her gentle older sister, Sarah, and Buza, the old Zulu nightwatchman, for company and comfort. But her parents' continuing discontent leads them to welcome some peculiar strangers.

One spring, a family of wanderers—a wildlife photographer, his wife, and two boys—comes to stay, and their strange, compelling, and dangerous ...

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Overview

Set in apartheid South Africa, this powerful and lyrically written novel is Linzi Glass's debut.

As twelve-year-old Emily Iris explains it, her mother and father have always been eager to take in travelers and vagabonds, relying on the presence of outsiders to ease the tension between them. Emily has her gentle older sister, Sarah, and Buza, the old Zulu nightwatchman, for company and comfort. But her parents' continuing discontent leads them to welcome some peculiar strangers.

One spring, a family of wanderers—a wildlife photographer, his wife, and two boys—comes to stay, and their strange, compelling, and dangerous presence will leave the Iris family infinitely changed.

Editorial Reviews

Children's Literature
The year is 1966 in apartheid South Africa. The setting is an affluent home set upon two acres of lush gardens and a lake in the suburbs of Johannesburg. Characters include Emily (12-years-old, the protagonist); her 15-year-old sister, Sarah; the servants, Buza and Lettie; and the parents, whose domestic unrest seemed to be eased by the frequent invitation of long term guests in the household. This time, however, the arrival of a rickety old trailer and its "gypsy" inhabitants--father Jock, mother Peg (whose constant companion is a six-foot python), and sons Streak and Otis--fails to simply divert attention from the more serious issues at hand, but reaches deep into the family with a lasting grip. A helpful glossary of Afrikaans and Zulu words and expressions can be found at the end of the book. This is the author's first novel and she based many of the stories told by Buza on tales told to her by an old Zulu night watchman, reworking and augmenting them to include other versions of similar African stories. Mature themes such as child abuse, mental illness, marital infidelity, rape, and accidental death are included. Highly recommended for older readers. 2006, Henry Holt and Company, Ages 12 up.
—Cindy L. Carolan
School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up-This story of a fateful year in a girl's life takes place in 1960s apartheid South Africa. In order to divert attention away from their failing marriage, Emily's emotionally distant parents invite a family to stay in a camper in their yard. Emily befriends the younger son, Streak, while the older son, Otis, who is clearly brain damaged, becomes almost a devoted shadow to her gentle and loving older sister, Sarah. It soon becomes clear that the boys' father beats them regularly, and that one of his beatings most likely led to Otis's condition. Emily increasingly looks to Buza, the night watchman, for love and reassurance, and he shares folktales and traditional Zulu wisdom with her. The relationship between Otis and Sarah becomes more and more tense, and Otis rapes her. Through tragedy, the girls' parents finally come to a truce. Emily's relationships with the people close to her ring true, and her friendship with Streak has its touching moments. However, the dialogue is uneven. Streak's semi-educated speech, for instance, sounds more American than South African. While the story has emotional power and shows something of the class and race relationships of the time, it lacks a deep grounding in the social context, such as that shown in Beverley Naidoo's collection Out of Bounds (HarperCollins, 2003). Instead, it focuses primarily on Emily and her tragic family circumstances. Suggest this one to readers who are always looking for "a sad book."-Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
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Kirkus Reviews
A spring visit from a vagabond family ends in disaster for two white girls and their family in apartheid South Africa in 1966. Twelve-year-old tomboy Emily lives in Johannesburg with her older sister Sarah and their self-absorbed, sparring parents. Emily compares her family to Johannesburg-an illusion held together with dust. Ignored by her selfish mother and detached father, Emily turns to the old Zulu night watchman Buza, who comforts her with his stories of courage and strength. Out of nowhere, the rootless Mallorys arrive in their bedraggled camping trailer, bringing danger and discontent. Emily and Sarah are soon distracted with ragamuffin Streak and retarded Otis Mallory. But Emily feels "cracked . . . in too many pieces" when she discovers her mother is having an affair and suspects Mr. Mallory is abusing Otis. Tragically, Emily's world is torn apart, but Buza helps provide the glue that holds her together. Subtle parallels between Emily's family and apartheid South Africa provide great depth and meaning to this somber, sensitive, exquisitely narrated story for mature readers. (glossary of Afrikaans and Zulu words and expressions) (Fiction. YA)

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780805079999
  • Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
  • Publication date: 3/21/2006
  • Edition number: 1
  • Pages: 272
  • Sales rank: 733,919
  • Age range: 12 - 17 Years
  • Lexile: 930L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 5.71 (w) x 8.49 (h) x 1.16 (d)

Meet the Author

Linzi Glass was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and moved to the United States as a young adult. She lives in California.

Customer Reviews

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Sort by: Showing all of 5 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 4, 2008

    Best book ever

    This is the best book ever. It is about a girl named Emily she is twelve. Live in africa. One day her dad invites a family of gypsies to stay. These include wildlife photographer Jock, wife Peg and sons Otis and Streak. Otis, the large mentally challenged one and Streak who wants to finally put down roots. Streak and Emily develop a fast friendship. And Otis attaches himself to her older sister Sarah. They all get on well. One day Emily learn that Jock hits his sons the eldest in particular. She begin to see that this family isn't perfect. Streak tell her that he hates his brother, and wishes more than anything that he would dissappear forever, so that Streak could be normal boy. One day the relationship between Sarah and Otis became too tense and Otis raped her. So they had to leave and she drowned in the lake.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 21, 2006

    Year the Gypsies Came

    This beautifully written novel evokes so realistically the memories I have of a place and a time where I lived as a child. The story is both haunting and hopeful. It will enthrall adults and teenagers alike. I can't wait to share it with my sixteen-year-old daughter.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 21, 2006

    Year the Gypsies Came

    I couldn't put this book down. I found the story and characters so real. What moved me most was the magical relationship between Emily and the old Zulu nightwatchman, Buza. The glue of the Honey Guide bird held this wonderful story together right to the end. I highly recommend this book to young and old alike.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 26, 2006

    A Smashing Debut

    I love great fiction you simply can't put down, and 'Gypsies' has won a place in my collection. Linzi Glass tells an incredible but always subtle tale of one girl's initiation into adulthood. The story -- about 12-year old Emily's disintegrating family, the mysterious visitors who change all their lives, and especially the ancient Zulu warrior who tells Emily tales of his people -- is unique and compelling, but the themes of this novel are universal. Glass intricately weaves the setting of apartheid South Africa into her plot, turning it into a character as vivid and memorable as wide-eyed Emily. Highly recommended for teens and adults.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 5, 2006

    this book is extraordinary!

    The Year The Gypsies Came is a must for readers of all ages. I picked up an advance copy and was instantly drawn into Emily's world. Every detail is beautifully conceived, every emotional note rings true. Such gorgeous use of the English language! I was truly captivated and couldn't put the book down until the very last page.

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