The Power of One By Bryce Courtenay

This is Bryce Courtenay's classic best-selling story of the triumph of the human spirit, specially adapted for young readers.

Born in a South Africa divided by racism and hatred, little six-year-old Peekay learns that small can beat big. Armed with this knowledge, he resolves to take on the injustices of his country, and sets his heart on becoming the welterweight champion of the world.
Peekay starts to take boxing lessons, makes new friends, collects cacti and plays the piano. Above all, he learns to think with his head and then with his heart. He discovers that nothing can defeat the determination to be true to yourself: that this is the power of one.