“You must read this book. Eggers writes the fictional autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng, a refugee from southern Sudan. At 7 years old, Achak is separated from his family when his Dinka village is attacked and slaughtered. He miraculously survives many dangers while walking from southwest Sudan to Ethiopia, where he manages to exist in a refugee camp. Later, he survives another slaughter, as the Ethiopian government violently attacks the camp and drives the refugees back to Sudan. Eventually, Achak makes his way to another refugee camp in Kenya. He is essentially a prisoner there for another 10 years before finally being permitted to immigrate to the United States. Through the telling of Achak's story, the reader learns in shocking detail of the Islamist-sponsored atrocities committed against the Dinka people beginning in the early 1980s and which continue today. It is impossible to read this book without questioning why our government has done so little for the people of southern Sudan.”
Brad Lyerla wrote this review Monday, January 21, 2013.
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