Nelson Mandela-legendary freedom fighter and revolutionary, first black president of South Africa, and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize-said that his childhood in the Transkei countryside taught him everything he needed to know in life. Though Mandela's father was a Xhosa chief, he and his family were forced to leave their home after an argument with a white magistrate. Mandela's mother's family took them in and the children grew up in a traditional village, deep in the veld. This biographical novel brings to life Mandela's childhood, his education at The Great Place, and his tribal initiation at sixteen when he resolved to cross the river so that he could live up to his name-Troublemaker-and fight for freedom for his people. The author, Ellie Crowe, was born in South Africa and now lives in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Santa Barbara, California. She is an award-winning author of eighteen books for young readers. Her book Kamehameha, The Boy Who Became a Warrior King is the recipient of the HVCB Kahili Award for Literary Arts in 2004, and Surfer of the Century: The Life of Duke Kahanamoku received the Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance/Once Upon a World Award in Children's Literature in 2008. Praise for books by Ellie Crowe: "Well researched and fact-filled"-School Library Journal "Hard to put down"-Asian American Press "Inspiring and poignant"-The Bloomsbury Review www.elliecrowe.com