What is the What is the story of a refugee named Valentino Achak Deng who lasted through the Sudanese Civil War in the later 1980’s. Now he tells his story to anyone that is listening. It is an incredibly sad yet uplifting story. It is surprising that Valentino is able to uphold his faith in the people around him when he is constantly going through strife in his everyday life. In this book, his recounting of the time of chaos in Sudan, he sees some of his closest friends die vicious and horrible deaths and yet he maintains a positive attitude. He was one of the few who made it out of Sudan. Along with a group of other boys, known as the “Lost Boys,” he made it to America.

Throughout the story, Valentino struggles with the government of Khartoum. They are participating in the genocide of his people, the Dinka of Southern Sudan. From the stand point here in America, I really could not get my head around someone constantly trying to “exterminate” me. They send men on horses to enslave you, and even try to bomb you. The author portrays this feeling of anguish and even made me feel as if it were somehow my own fault. This is the kind of story a person can’t read without getting emotionally involved.

The hard ships that the Lost Boys face made me feel lucky to live in a place where a person does not have to worry about food or clothing. I found myself learning lessons from each of Achak’s devastating experiences. Even though it made me sad, that he had to experience this at such a young age, relief comes because I did not have to do all these things as a child.

Stories of the constant war going on in Africa and the Middle East plaster world newspapers. However, we get this from bystanders and outside nations, not of those who suffer losing their families, homes, possessions, and had no part in the war. The way that the author wrote this book makes me take a different side, but not for one side or the other, but for those caught in between. The book makes me realize that neither side is good. Governments and rebels both have ulterior motives and seek only wealth for themselves.

This book was well written and made me feel a whole range of emotions, happiness to despair, as well as feel as though I knew Valentino personally. At parts, there was humor and compassion in the midst of darkness and depression. I very much enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone.