
Reviews for Trainsurfer
“Trainsurfer is fast-paced, beautifully expressed, gutsy & insightful. Kate can walk in others' shoes & brings cross-cultural teenagers together in apartheid South Africa in an engaging & masterful way. It's a story of hope, friendship & healing and illustrates the sharp disparity of lifestyles in our complex country.
It's a deftly crafted book with a message of hope, healing & forgiveness. It is written for adolescents and has the potential to be made into a fast-paced, impactful movie. The book ended on a surprising note, leaving me breathless for the sequel!”
Eve Hemming, Psychologist, Thames, NZ
"It was the best book I've ever read. I liked the happy parts and even the sad parts. I give it a 10/10" - Sean - aged 11, Titirangi, New Zealand.
“Kate, I found your book inspiring and uplifting. Gutwrenching too, the way apartheid ruled back then in our beloved country will always remain inexplicably cruel to me. Hoping for a sequel as the sudden end left me wanting more!” Glyn Macaskill, USA
I ordered this book today for my Kindle and started reading as soon as it was downloaded. I finished it in one afternoon, as I just had to know how the story unfolded. It is not a long book and reads very easily.
It is a wonderful story of South Africa pre- and post-apartheid and how it affected people in those days. Will have great appeal to young people especially, and those interested in the surfing life, as well as any S. Africans who grew up during those times and anyone interested in knowing what it was like to be young in South Africa during those days when crossing the colour line, meant breaking the law. Also shows the differences between white privilege and those not so fortunate, and how someone deciding to do the right thing can make such a big difference, not only to those they are helping but to themselves as well.
Congratulations Kate Richards on a great first book. May there be many more! Libby Vosper
"A very good book. Extremely 'hooking'. Interesting, exciting, thrilling. I couldn't put it down." Caleb, aged 12, Wanaka, New Zealand
“I couldn't put it down. My heart broke for Jabu and rejoiced as he overcame difficulties. The story is filled with kindness and shows that all it takes is a small group to show kindness and it spreads. I am hoping we find out more about Jabu and his friends in follow up books.” Angie Callaghan, USA Grade 4 Teacher
“The book was really cool and should have a sequel. I liked how Jabu looked after all the homeless people. It was a bit of a page-turner and there were no boring bits. Overall I would give it a 9 out of 10 and I found it really fun to read. Thank you for letting me read the book, I really liked it." Josh, year 9, Titirangi.
“I read Trainsurfer while on holiday... I expected to enjoy it as my son had raved about it .. I wasn’t disappointed, it’s a great read, not just for kids!
While it broaches topics that kid’s books usually avoid, like homelessness, racism, and drug use, it does so in a way totally appropriate to young readers without dumbing down these issues.
This book is a real gem, I thoroughly enjoyed it and did not want it to end!! I hope you’re planning a sequel Kate!” - Rachael, Wanaka, New Zealand
“This was such an inspiration to read. It held me captive, not wanting to put the book down.
It reminded me of the injustice of the apartheid era in South Africa and then the sweet freedom that came with the release of Nelson Mandela and collapse of that evil system.
I loved how Jabu made good choices and made a success of his life at all odds and how his bad start in life had given him the compassion to help the street children and how forgiveness had changed his whole situation.
I highly recommend it and would love to see a sequel.” – Dot, Christchurch, New Zealand
“It's a compelling and hopeful South African story, centred around two youths from very different walks of life; a courageous boy named Jabu, and a surfer girl called Billie. Trainsurfer is a well written, easy read with riveting action scenes, engaging dialogue and heart-touching moments- set in a 'charged', apartheid-era South Africa.” Paul Hemming, South Africa
'Best story ever' (son) 'awesome read' (partner)' my son and partner could not put it down!' (mum) and we all learnt a lot along the way too - NZ family
One of my favourite books is the book that I proofread for you and I can’t believe it is already published! I think that the book was incredible and made me want to read more! I found that you write very enthusiastically and I just couldn’t help but to keep on reading even when my mother said to put the book down! I love how your characters seem to come alive, and you create the personalities of the characters so easily! Being brought up in South Africa myself, I think that I can relate to some of the experiences in the book and I loved all of the detail in all the different aspects of the book. Mia, South Africa.