The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
I highly recommend Power of One by Bryce Courtenay as a refreshing and inspiring read.
Its the story of a boy growing up in South Africa in the mid 1900s around the time of World War II. The boy goes through some traumatizing experiences followed by a load of adventures. The story is partially autobiographical. Once you get past the traumatizing beginning there is plenty of interesting adventures to follow.
The author conveys some messages about the role of the white man in apartheid South Africa, but mostly its just a fun and exciting read. Enjoy and let me know what you think of it.