FREE teacher's notes: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Pan Macmillan is thrilled to announce that the #1 South African and international bestseller Born a Crime: And Other Stories by Trevor Noah has been adapted for a younger audience.


Trevor Noah grew up in South Africa with a black South African mother and a white Swiss father at a time when it was against the law for a mixed-race child to exist. But Trevor did exist.

In Born a Crime, Trevor shares what his life was like growing up. The stories he tells in this book will make you laugh, cry and fill you with wonder and inspiration as you learn how this mischievous young boy used his quick wits and humour to get through his day-to-day life. Against all odds and with his mother’s unfailing love and belief in him, Trevor overcame many obstacles to create a promising future for himself. 

This moving memoir is filled with proudly South African stories that will entertain and inspire. Born a Crime is the perfect book for thought-provoking debates and insightful discussions about South African history, facing challenges, being a teenager and living in a culturally diverse society.

Download your free teacher's notes

Born a Crime

by Trevor Noah

Adapted for younger readers from Born a Crime: And Other Stories – the #1 South African and New York Times bestseller

‘If my mother had one goal, it was to free my mind. My mother spoke to me like an adult. She was always telling me stories, giving me lessons, Bible lessons especially. She was big into Psalms. I had to read Psalms every day. She would quiz me on it. “What does the passage mean? What does it mean to you? How do you apply it to your life?” That was every day of my life. My mom did what school didn’t. She taught me how to think.’