Born a Crime

Born a Crime

• Genre: Nonfiction; comedic autobiography
• Originally Published: 2016
•  Reading Level/Interest: College/Adult
• Structure/Length: 18 chapters; approx. 304 pages; approx. 8 hours, 44 minutes on audio
• Central Concern: Comedian and commentator Trevor Noah discusses his upbringing and coming-of-age in South Africa. The son of a white European father and Black South African mother, Trevor was born in the final years of apartheid, when oppressive laws existed to prevent relationships like his parents’. Noah’s stories offer a keen perspective on the changes to daily life in South Africa as apartheid came to an end and toward his experiences growing up with a mother determined to keep him safe.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Apartheid; racism, oppression, and prejudice; violence and injustice

Trevor Noah, Author

• Bio: Born 1984 in Johannesburg, South Africa; rose to fame there as a comedian and television talk show host; followed a career path as an international commentator and comedian; served as a correspondent and contributor to Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart beginning in 2014; continued to perform comedy worldwide; became host of The Daily Show with Trevor Noah in 2015; produces podcasts, live comedy, and tours; has been awarded multiple honors for his comedy, shows, and documentaries; established The Trevor Noah Foundation, which assists youth in preparing for work roles or higher education
• Other Works: It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood (Adapted for Young Readers) (2019)
• Awards: Thurber Prize for American Humor (2017); NAACP Image Award (2017); Audie Award for Best Male Narrator (audio; 2018)