Mandela’s life inspires isle biographer

Honolulu author Ellie Crowe likes to write biographies of inspiring figures who overcome great challenges. So former South African President Nelson Mandela would seem a natural subject for her children’s books.

After spending 27 years in prison, Mandela, who died Dec. 5, could have led his country into civil war, but he chose the path of reconciliation and worked to unite people.

"He was such an amazing man," said Crowe, who was born and raised in South Africa. "The thing that I thought was really incredible about him was the way he talked about forgiveness."

The author’s self-published children’s book "Nelson Mandela: The Boy Called Troublemaker," was recently picked up by StarWalk Kids Media.

The coming-of-age story for readers ages 8 to 11 tells of Mandela’s growth from a little boy to age 16 when he underwent a Xhosa manhood ritual.

The e-book is available via Amazon (Kindle Edition, $4.99) and is expected to come out in print by January. It will also become part of StarWalk Kids’ collection of streaming e-books for students in kindergarten through grade eight.

Crowe said she was able to draw from some of her experiences in South Africa for the book, although she never had the opportunity to meet Mandela. As part of her research, she pored through the leader’s speeches and read his autobiography.

"He said that everything he needed to know in his life he had learned growing up in the village," she said. "The book is mostly set in the village, so that’s interesting. He loved the village where he grew up."

The first chapter tells of how Mandela had to leave everything behind and flee his village on foot with his family to live with relatives. There are vivid descriptions of the veld, with its rolling green hills and wild animals. Following chapters tell of how Mandela learned to stick-fight, lost his father at a young age and went to live with a tribal king, Jongintaba, to get a good education.

What really struck Crowe as she wrote the book is that Mandela’s name, as given to him by his parents, was Rolihlahla, which means "troublemaker."

"It’s almost as if his parents knew he would make trouble, but then he ended up being a peacemaker and he won a Nobel Prize," she said. "Reading his speeches and reading about him, he seemed to have a really nice sense of humor and to be such a genuine person."

Crowe said she hopes the book and her other biographies send a message to children "that they can overcome almost anything."

Crowe moved to Hawaii about 20 years ago. Her other books include "Surfer of the Century: The Life of Duke Kahanamoku," "Kamehameha, The Boy Who Became a Warrior King" and "Little Princess Ka’iulani in Her Garden by the Sea." She has also written several books on the culture and history of Hawaii, including "Exploring Lost Hawaii."

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