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Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton gives American kids a firsthand look at growing up in Kenya as a member of a tribe of nomads whose livelihood centers on the raising and grazing of cattle. Readers share Lekuton's first encounter with a lion, the epitome of bravery in the warrior tradition. They follow his mischievous antics as a young Maasai cattle herder, coming-of-age initiation, boarding school escapades, soccer success, and journey to America for college. Lekuton's riveting text combines exotic details of nomadic life with the universal experience and emotions of a growing boy.
A member of the Masai people describes his life as he grew up in a northern Kenya village, travelled to America to attend college, and became an elementary school teacher in Virginia.
| Chapter 1 | A Lion Hunt | 9 |
| Chapter 2 | The Proud One | 19 |
| Chapter 3 | Cows | 25 |
| Chapter 4 | The Pinching Man | 35 |
| Chapter 5 | School | 43 |
| Chapter 6 | Herdsman | 57 |
| Chapter 7 | Initiation | 65 |
| Chapter 8 | Kabarak | 75 |
| Chapter 9 | Soccer | 85 |
| Chapter 10 | America | 93 |
| Chapter 11 | A Warrior in Two Worlds | 105 |
| Afterword | 111 |
From a green and beautiful village on the side of a small hill in Kenya comes this firsthand account of a boy'' journey to manhood. Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton is a Maasai tribesman brought up in the nomadic way of life. The only child in his family to go to school, Lemasolai is torn between the traditional ways of his family and the western ways taught by his teachers. In his struggle to balance two cultures, he learns to apply lessons learned in each of his worlds to the problems of the other.
Personal, moving, and often funny, this modern memoir is a close look at a traditional culture and a satisfying tale of a young man's journey of discovery.
Jayson_F
Posted January 10, 2010
Hello, I'm writing a book review about the book I read 'Facing the Lion : Growing up Maasai on the African Savanna' for my English class. This book was one of the most interesting book I read, and I don't say that to a lot of books. When I read books I usually hate them, but this book has touched me in a way and has related to me. The book began with a dramatic opening of the main character Lekuton's first encounter with a lion. The book covered his life from birth through out his life experiences. Where he lived his life dealing with two cultures, his own Maa culture and the American culture. He had experienced thousands of miles of traveling, but never had left his own culture.
I enjoyed reading the book a lot because I felt like I was growing up with him. The book was a simple memoir, but it had a strong story telling behind it. So I recommend this book for everyone because it is just that amazing to read.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 15, 2009
This was a wonderful and engaging story about the experiences of childhood in an African culture, which allowed me to envision this event from a perspective different from my own. The author gave me an opportunity to learn about his environment and the influences that defined his cultural experiences. I think it is a fantastic book for young children to understand that the experiences of childhood is unique within every culture.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 23, 2013
I am reading this with my 7th grade class! It is just Amazing! I love it!
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Posted March 15, 2013
Great book o its wonderful you are going to love it
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Posted November 4, 2012
Best book ever i warmed my heart seeing what joseph had to
go throuhg walking miles almost every day barefoot that is why we have to appreciate what we have
Anonymous
Posted May 11, 2004
This book described the struggles of a masai child, and the success that he has received in return. The book starts out with Joseph running away from a lion, which is considered cowardly. He strives to prove that he is not a coward so he pays extra attention to every task he is assigned. The law requires one child to go to school so he lies about his age and makes connections. This Book made me think about how easy it is to make connections. It made me realize that I have much potential and should use this school as a resource to expand my network.
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Posted September 27, 2011
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Posted July 26, 2011
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Overview
Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton gives American kids a firsthand look at growing up in Kenya as a member of a tribe of nomads whose livelihood centers on the raising and grazing of cattle. Readers share Lekuton's first encounter with a lion, the epitome of bravery in the warrior tradition. They follow his mischievous antics as a young Maasai cattle herder, coming-of-age initiation, boarding school escapades, soccer success, and journey to America for college. Lekuton's riveting text combines exotic details of nomadic ...