Jessica Mtsweni

She is determined. She is proud. She is caught between two worlds. At fifteen, Thandi Mbeki walks through the iron gates of Westfield Girls' High each morning, leaving behind the lively, kaleidoscopic streets of Soweto for the manicured lawns of one of Johannesburg's most prestigious school. Here, she's one of only a handful of Black faces in a sea of white. Her days are spent trying to balance two versions of herself-Nomthandazo, the daughter who helps her mother cook pap and tends to her younger sibling, and Thandi, the scholarship student that is striving to prove she belongs.
But when a series of incidents forces her to confront the subtle prejudices and unspoken barriers at Westfield, she must decide if she will continue to shape herself to fit their world, or if she will find the courage to shape their world to make room for herself?In this moving coming-of-age story, Jessica Mtsweni shares a brilliant story about identity, belonging, and the courage that it takes to stand up for who you truly are.
Finding Thandi is an unflinching look at the complexities of growing up in modern day South Africa, and a celebration of finding your voice when it matters most.