This riveting story dealing with prejudice against albinos in Tanzania is centered on 13-year-old Habo, a runaway searching for acceptance. Along the way, Habo encounters poachers who want to sell his body parts for luck. Glossary, Video Suggestions

Fabulous YA book that tackles a major international issue. Just last week I saw a blurb in the paper about African albinos being targeted and killed for "magic" properties. Meanwhile my 12-yr-old son had been bugging me to read Golden Boy since he read it last Fall as part of the Caudill Award nominees. Finally the two things coalesced and I had a relevant, revealing read. Golden Boy is the fictional story of Habo, an albino Tanzanian boy of 13. He is referred to as a "zeruzeru" -- a derogatory term meaning "nothing." His family is being evicted from their small village home because they cannot make the payments needed to stay even though Habo's 2 older brothers work at the coffee plantation. Their father left when Habo was born due to his "whiteness" and bad luck. Both brothers and mother resent him for this. His older sister Asu, however, has been his true mother and cares for him. Due to his condition, Habo has poor eyesight and cannot be out in the sun. This limits what he can do to help his family. While his village has been mostly accepting, Habo has never had friends or fit in. Now the family must pack up and move across the country to a bigger city of Mwanza where Habo's Auntie and her family live. The oldest brother stays behind to finish the coffee harvest and receive his wages. The rest travel by train as far as their money will take them, then by foot through the Serengeti, until they are given a ride by Alasiri, a handsome young man who is a park/safari guide, but also a poacher of elephant ivory. He knows Habo's "worth" as an albino in the superstitious lake district and ultimately hunts him down at his Auntie's house and attempts to kill him. Habo escapes and decides he must leave the area for his safety and the safety of his family. He hops a train back across the country to even bigger Dar es Salaam. There, he finds work, shelter and an apprenticeship with the blind sculptor Kweli. Kweli cannot see Habo's difference, but his 13-yr. old niece Davu can. She however befriends Habo and keeps his secret at long as she can. This area is more accepting and there are even 2 albino MPs in the government. Here Habo learns more about his condition, he learns to sculpt wood, and he learns about love and acceptance. In a wise object lesson, Kweli asks Habo the difference between a plain piece of paper and money. "Everything only has the value we give it." he concludes. (290). Habo contemplates this a lot, especially when Alasiri shows up in Dar es Salaam. "I've been told that I'm priceless. I've been told that I'm worthless. Which, if either is true?" (269) That is the classic teenage question, but here it is fraught with additional meaning and higher stakes. Habo and Kweli come up with a daring plan to expose and trap Alasiri and ensure he can no longer harm people or animals. There is mature subject matter here, but it is handled adeptly and knowledgeably. Great way to raise awareness. ( )

I love the messages in this book. The human rights issue is important for YA, and Golden Boy is great avenue for learning. Although the story is fictional, the killings of those with Albinism is real and happening in 2015. I also appreciated that the novel connects art as a way to cope and learn. There's much to gain by reading this book and I'm excited to recommend this book and talk to my friends and students about it. ( )

A Tanzanian albino boy finds himself the ultimate outsider, hunted because of the color of his skin.

Habo, is an albino growing up with his family in Africa.