Saxel Adude

I would rate 5 stars but that would seem inauthentic. I very much enjoyed this book it has great writing and humor for the dark concepts it covers making it more palatable. The autobiography itself feels very human and relatable. You may not have lived in South Africa during Apartheid, but the feeling of being an outsider in school or the frustration of other people belittling you is quite common. I like this book most for its lessons "I remember the thing that caused the trauma, but I don't hold onto the trauma" "We spend so much time being afraid of failure, afraid of rejection. But regret is the thing we should fear most. Failure is an answer. Rejection is an answer. Regret is an eternal question you will never have the answer to." "Love is a creative act. When you love someone you create a new world for them" These lessons I feel we all can learn from, I know I certainly have. The more I read through this book the more I could relate to Trevor. I also had a great relationship with my mother, I felt like a social outsider that could weave between social cliques, found ways to support people in small ways even if it's not the most lawful, living in a small town with a close knit community and knowing the land, my mother not having the best taste in men, and generational trauma. Now, of course my story isn't the same as Trevor's and mine is much less dangerous, risky, and full of adventure as Trevor's. But I feel me reading Born a Crime was no accident. I will cherish how Trevor's words inspire me and guide me through the chaos of reality we call life.