One of thousands of children who fled strife in southern Sudan, John Bul Dau survived hunger, exhaustion, and violence. His wife, Martha, endured similar hardships. In this memorable book, the two convey the best of African values while relating searing accounts of famine and war. There’s warmth as well, in their humorous tales of adapting to American life. For its importance as a primary source, for its inclusion of the rarely told female perspective of Sudan’s lost children, for its celebration of human ...
One of thousands of children who fled strife in southern Sudan, John Bul Dau survived hunger, exhaustion, and violence. His wife, Martha, endured similar hardships. In this memorable book, the two convey the best of African values while relating searing accounts of famine and war. There’s warmth as well, in their humorous tales of adapting to American life. For its importance as a primary source, for its inclusion of the rarely told female perspective of Sudan’s lost children, for its celebration of human resilience, this is the perfect story to inform and inspire young readers.
There is a surprising softness in the tone of the story about John and Martha enduring the civil war in Southern Sudan. John's life as a Dinka villager and Martha's life in the city of Juba were both upended, and they don't even seem angry about it. The book unfolds the separate lives and common struggles of John and Martha as children, teenagers, and adults during a time of peace, war, and refuge beginning in 1983. A book about survival and strength rather than anger and blame, it gets the point across of the immense turmoil and struggle of the southern Sudanese people without getting too frightening. Walking hundreds of miles with no shoes, disease, crocodiles, guns, lack of food and clean water, are endured with thoughts of life, family, pride, and hope. John and Martha's stories began to intertwine at a refugee camp, and they both sought a new life in the United States. This is a poignant story about persistence, showing how hard work can get you results and even miracles. This is a great starting point into further research about the civil war in Southern Sudan, and is perfect for group discussion. Reviewer: Renee Farrah Vess
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