{"product_id":"the-soccer-fence-a-story-of-friendship-hope-and-apartheid-in-south-africa-hardcover","title":"The Soccer Fence: A Story of Friendship, Hope, and Apartheid in South Africa - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003ePhil Bildner\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eJesse Joshua Watson\u003c\/b\u003e (Illustrator)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eIn a country struggling with acceptance, hope can come in many different forms.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs a boy, Hector loved playing soccer in his small Johannesburg township. He dreamed of playing on a real pitch with the boys from another part of the city, but apartheid made that impossible. Then, in 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison, and apartheid began to crumble. The march toward freedom in South Africa was a slow one, but when the beloved Bafana Bafana national soccer team won the African Cup of Nations, Hector realized that dreams once impossible could now come true. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis poignant story of friendship artfully depicts a brief but critical moment in South Africa's history and the unique role that sports can play in bringing people together.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn avid soccer fan, Phil Bildner has sat on the Real Madrid bench at el Estadio de Santiago Bernabéu, and he has watched from the bleachers as Lionel Messi scored a hat trick during an Argentina-Brazil showdown. Away from the pitch, Phil was an attorney and taught middle school in the New York City public schools. He is the author of the Texas Bluebonnet Award-winning \u003ci\u003eShoeless Joe \u0026amp; Black Betsy\u003c\/i\u003e, and the co-author with Loren Long of the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling Sluggers series. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cbr\u003eJesse Joshua Watson has traveled extensively, developing a deep passion for sharing the beauty of the world's cultures. He has always cared deeply about South Africa--in high school he campaigned for Nelson Mandela's freedom by organizing awareness and student action. In addition to writing and illustrating books and teaching art to kids, Jesse plays soccer religiously. He lives in Port Townsend, Washington, with his wife and their sons.\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 40\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.5 x 9.46 x 10.55 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e March 13, 2014\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAward:\u003c\/strong\u003e Parents Choice Awards (Spring) (2008-Up) (2014)\u003c\/div\u003e\n                \u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAccelerated Reader:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n                \n                \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQuiz Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Soccer Fence: A Story of Friendship, Hope and Apartheid in South Africa\u003c\/div\u003e\n                \n                \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterest Level:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lower Grades, K-3\u003c\/div\u003e\n                \n                \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReading Level:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4\u003c\/div\u003e\n                \n                \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePoint Value:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.5\u003c\/div\u003e\n                ","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51755772018976,"sku":"9780399247903","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/46d0b2094dd239c199d3245f12bc0a2c.webp?v=1780068209","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/the-soccer-fence-a-story-of-friendship-hope-and-apartheid-in-south-africa-hardcover","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}