{"id":6210,"date":"2026-06-02T11:12:43","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T09:12:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/?p=184690"},"modified":"2026-06-02T11:12:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T09:12:43","slug":"sa-matric-learner-publishes-two-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/sa-matric-learner-publishes-two-books\/","title":{"rendered":"SA Matric Learner Publishes Two Books"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Young author releases children\u2019s story Jacaranda Tree and poetry chapbook Locked In a Suitcase, encouraging South African youth to read, reflect, and trust their voices.<\/p>\n

In a world that often tells young people to wait their turn, South African matric student Naledi Setzin did the opposite. While still in high school, Setzin wrote and self-published not one, but two books: a children\u2019s story titled Jacaranda Tree and a poetry chapbook, Locked In a Suitcase. Published during her matric year in 2025, Setzin\u2019s journey is a testament to what can happen when creativity meets courage. Without waiting for perfection, permission, or the \u201cright time\u201d, she embraced a simple but powerful philosophy: just start.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t need everything to be perfect,\u201d says Setzin. \u201cI just needed to be honest and real.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the heart of her work is a belief that young people have something meaningful to say. Through her writing, Setzin hopes to encourage her peers to read more, reflect more, and express themselves freely \u2013 even when their voices feel unfinished, uncertain, or still becoming. Her passion for storytelling was shaped not only by imagination, but by lived experience. During difficult periods in her life, including illness and personal loss, writing became a refuge. It allowed her to process emotion, explore vulnerability, and find clarity in moments that were otherwise hard to articulate.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes it\u2019s easier to write than to speak,\u201d she says. \u201cOn paper, I can be completely raw and honest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Setzin\u2019s two books reflect both her inner world and her awareness of the one around her. Jacaranda Tree, written for younger readers, explores themes of environmental responsibility, civic duty, and the importance of collective accountability. Through storytelling, Setzin highlights the power of young voices and the responsibility that comes with using them constructively to protect the world around us. The book encourages readers to see environmental care not as an abstract issue, but as an everyday commitment connected to how we treat our communities, public spaces, and one another.<\/p>\n

\u201cProtecting your environment, communities, and surroundings in a constructive rather than destructive manner allows us to preserve what we need for society to flourish,\u201d says Setzin. By encouraging young readers to think critically about their role in society, Jacaranda Tree positions accountability, compassion, and community-minded action as essential tools for building a more sustainable future.<\/p>\n

In contrast, Locked In a Suitcase offers a more introspective lens. The poetry collection examines identity, perspective, and the idea that each person carries their own \u201csuitcase\u201d of experiences, beliefs, memories, and emotions that shape how they see the world. Together, the two books show a young writer working across genres: one speaking outwards to children and communities; the other turning inwards to explore the private emotional landscapes young people often carry quietly.<\/p>\n

Beyond her own work, Setzin is passionate about championing African literature and creating space for young voices to be heard. \u201cI believe people don\u2019t actually hate reading,\u201d she says. \u201cThey just haven\u2019t found something that speaks to them yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her message to other young creatives is clear: start where you are, use what you have, and trust your voice. As South Africa continues to spotlight stories that inspire, uplift, and challenge assumptions about young people, Naledi Setzin represents a new generation of creators \u2013 bold enough to begin, and brave enough to share.<\/p>\n

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Author<\/strong>: Vanessa Rogers from TextBOX Conceptual on behalf of The Kreatives Agency<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

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CLICK HERE to Read the Original Press Release on MyPR<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Young author releases children\u2019s story Jacaranda Tree and poetry chapbook Locked In a Suitcase, encouraging South African youth to read, reflect, and trust their voices. In a world that often tells young people to wait their turn, South African matric student Naledi Setzin did the opposite. While still in high school, Setzin wrote and self-published …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","autoblue_enabled":true,"autoblue_custom_message":"","autoblue_shares":[{"did":"did:plc:revymtt5qssww7e7avbruzic","date":"2026-06-02T09:13:58+00:00","uri":"at:\/\/did:plc:revymtt5qssww7e7avbruzic\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3mncaxmb7g22p","response":"{\"uri\":\"at:\/\/did:plc:revymtt5qssww7e7avbruzic\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3mncaxmb7g22p\",\"cid\":\"bafyreiaz6djji77qwmgvt6fspnidr3pi7bgjvodbhf64nyztexwk7rn7uu\",\"commit\":{\"cid\":\"bafyreiedjsd3ed4b77nymqfa44oyb6pn436xytppzm4hcymtyx3b4byr5u\",\"rev\":\"3mncaxmbgas2p\"},\"validationStatus\":\"valid\"}"}],"autoblue_post_url":"","autoblue_publish_document":false,"republication-tracker-tool-hide-widget":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[29],"class_list":["type-post","category-news","tag-mypr-africa","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6210","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6210"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6210\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}