Auma's Long Run

by Eucabeth Odhiambo

Overview

Auma is racing toward her dreams as fast as possible—but can she turn her back on her family when tragedy hits home? This acclaimed #OwnVoices debut set in 1980s Kenya is a poignant story of loss, grief, and the power of resilience.

A track scholarship could put thirteen-year-old Auma one step closer to leaving her small village in Kenya. She is determined to become a doctor, and nothing—not her classmates, not her marrying age, and not the night runners who come by the house while she sleeps—will stop her.

But then a strange new sickness called AIDS starts ravaging the town, eventually spreading to her own father. How can she think of leaving when her mother and siblings need her? Determined Auma finds herself in a different kind of race: to find out if there's a cure and protect her family, all while keeping a hold on her dreams.

Based on the author's childhood in Kenya, Auma's story humanizes the AIDS epidemic and reveals hope amidst a devastating health crisis. Paperback edition includes a reading guide at the back!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823445653
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	09/01/2020
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	270,388
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Eucabeth Odhiambo is a professor of education at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. As a classroom teacher she has taught every grade between kindergarten and middle school. This is her first novel, inspired by her experience growing up in Kenya in the '80s and '90s, as well as HIV/AIDS education research for her doctoral degree.

Editorial Reviews

"If you're looking for a terrific story with an unbeatable protagonist and some important knowledge thrown into the mix, you need to read Auma's Long Run by Eucabeth Odhiambo. Auma's Long Run is the perfect vehicle for apprising readers of the history and present dangers of HIV/AIDs in Kenya, while presenting an engaging story. We are introduced to Auma, a serious child who loves to run, wants to become a doctor, and witnesses with a desperate helplessness as so many people in her village die of a mysterious disease. We also learn about the culture of this village—education, traditions, food, and religion, in a way that is woven into the narrative of Auma's story without feeling like we're learning. Questions unanswered (often unasked) about the disease are addressed in this compelling young adult book. For example, rumors such as an infected man could rid himself of the disease by having sex with a virgin girl furthered the spread of the disease. Whether the reader is looking to read a good story or learn something, Auma's Long Run will satisfy. Highlighting the need for educating populations, particularly in science, should make this a popular and compelling choice among teachers for a classroom read.”—Jennifer Wills Geraedts, Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery

From the Publisher

★ 06/01/2017
Gr 5 Up—In this novel set in 1980s Kenya, HIV/AIDS ravages Auma's village and leaves her and her three siblings orphans. The girl's speed and good grades lead to a track scholarship at a provincial high school. Auma's life is at times overwhelmingly harsh, from her culture's low expectations for girls to the threat of starvation to the dangers she faces from village men. She aspires to become a doctor and help cure the disease; she wants to "find out what is killing our people, and once I find out, I will work to end it." Her grandmother, Dani, accuses Auma of being selfish because she refuses to be married at 15 and stay in the village to take care of her sister and brothers. Odhiambo grew up in Kenya and later studied HIV/AIDS education in Kenyan schools. She writes in the author's note that the deaths that resulted from this disease left many unanswered questions at the time because information on "slim," as HIV/AIDS was nicknamed, was not available until the mid-1990s and the local Luo culture did not encourage open discussion about the disease. Using straightforward language, Odhiambo addresses traditions of the Luo culture and details about HIV/AIDS, including how it is contracted and its effects on the body. VERDICT This moving testament to the power of determination to overcome overwhelming odds is a recommended purchase for all libraries.—Sarah Wilsman, Bainbridge Library, Chagrin Falls, OH

School Library Journal

★ 2017-06-27
In Odhiambo's debut novel, a young girl faces a difficult decision when AIDS hits her Kenyan village. Born "facedown," 13-year-old Auma knows she's destined for great things. As one of the fastest runners in school, track is her ticket to getting a scholarship to continue her education. But in her village of Koromo, people are dying at an alarming rate from a disease called AIDS, and few people really know why. Auma's dream is to become a doctor and help those afflicted. When first her father becomes ill and then her mother soon after, Auma is left shouldering the responsibility of caring for her family. Grades and running begin to take a back seat to feeding her family, and Auma must find the strength to follow her dreams, no matter how impossible they seem. In Auma, Odhiambo draws from her own experiences of growing up in Kenya during the beginning of the AIDS crisis to present a strong, intelligent protagonist who questions and refuses to give in to what is normally accepted. Auma treats readers to beautiful descriptions of the world around her but also gives them a candid look at the fear and superstition surrounding AIDs in its early days in Kenya as well as the grief of loss. All of the characters are black. Honestly told, Auma's tale humanizes and contextualizes the AIDs experience in Kenya without sensationalizing it. (Historical fiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews

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