17. The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

I read this back in Year 8 when it was THE book to read. The novel tells the story of an English boy who, through the course of the story, acquires the nickname of Peekay, and is set in 1930s and 1940s South Africa. The story revolves around Peekay's traumatic childhood and his career as a boxer, but also provides a lot of cultural observations about life in pre-war SA. It's one of those inspirational stories that maybe I am too sophisticated for now but that I remember with great fondness. I have a copy somewhere - really should re-read it. I'll post again, if and when that happens.