Review of Burn My Heart by Beverley Naidoo

Burn My Heart is set in Kenya in the fifties. At this time, there is unrest between a sect of militant natives called Mau Mau and the white settlers. We see life on the Graysons’ farm as the troubles are escalating. Matthew, the Grayson’s son, has always played with Mugo, the kitchen toto (boy) and son of Kamau, who has worked on the Grayson farm since he was a boy. This is also how it had been when Mr. Grayson, the bwana (owner), was little; Kamau watched out for him. Lance Smithers, a boarding school friend of Matthew’s, wants Matthew to play a game of Mau Mau at the club house. Lance acts as General and Matthew is his adjutant. They round up the younger children as Mau Mau and imprison them in the tennis courts. Colonel Smithers, Lance’s father, believes that Mr. Grayson is naive to be so trusting of his native help. When Colonel Smithers’ mother is widowed, he comes to manage the family farm, despite her protests that she can manage by herself and that her servants are loyal. He volunteers for the Kenya Police Reserve after the governor declares a state of Emergency to defeat the Mau Mau. He is convinced that all of the natives are part of the Mau Mau. In fact, all adults and boys of a mature age are forced (in many instances much against their will) to take the Mau Mau oath. The Mau Mau instigate an uprising and are defeated. In January of 1960, the Emergency finally ends. The book shows the terrible turmoil Matthew goes through. Above all he wants to stay loyal to Mugo, but he is not allowed. His relationship with Lance is also confusing: it is nice to be friends with the most popular boy in the school, but he finally comes to realize that his priorities were not right. Review by Teresa Kerrigan