This book is part of the series, "Mactracks", designed to appeal to African boys and girls aged between 9 and 15 years. Each title is graded according to the age of the reader and his/her language skills. Although intended to meet an educational need, these books are meant to povide pleasure and information. Some are factional and some are fictional, and they are all illustrated. "Zulu Spear" is for the second level, including readers aged 11-12. It is a mixture of fact and fiction, describing Zulu life over 100 years ago as seen through the eyes of two 13 year-old Zulu boys. The climax of the story is the Battle of Isandalhwana in 1879.