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They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan
Benjamin, Alepho, and Benson were raised among the Dinka tribe of Sudan. Their world was an insulated, close-knit community of grass-roofed cottages, cattle herders, and tribal councils. The lions and pythons that prowled beyond the village fences were the greatest threat they knew. All that changed the night the government-armed Murahiliin began attacking their villages.
Amid the chaos, screams, conflagration, and gunfire, 5-year-old Benson and 7-year-old Benjamin fled into the dark night. Two years later, Alepho, age 7, was forced to do the same. Across the Southern Sudan, over the next 5 years, thousands of other boys did likewise, joining this stream of child refugees that became known as the Lost Boys. Their journey would take them more than 1000 miles across a war-ravaged country, through landmine-sown paths, crocodile-infested waters, and grotesque extremes of hunger, thirst, and disease. The refugee camps they eventually filtered through offered little respite from the brutality they were fleeing.
In They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky, Alepho, Benson, and Benjamin, by turn, recount their experiences along this unthinkable journey. They vividly recall the family, friends, and tribal world they left far behind them and their desperate efforts to keep track of one another. This is a captivating memoir of Sudan and a powerful portrait of war as seen through the eyes of children. And it is, in the end, an inspiring and unforgettable tribute to the tenacity of even the youngest human spirits.
Amid the chaos, screams, conflagration, and gunfire, 5-year-old Benson and 7-year-old Benjamin fled into the dark night. Two years later, Alepho, age 7, was forced to do the same. Across the Southern Sudan, over the next 5 years, thousands of other boys did likewise, joining this stream of child refugees that became known as the Lost Boys. Their journey would take them more than 1000 miles across a war-ravaged country, through landmine-sown paths, crocodile-infested waters, and grotesque extremes of hunger, thirst, and disease. The refugee camps they eventually filtered through offered little respite from the brutality they were fleeing.
In They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky, Alepho, Benson, and Benjamin, by turn, recount their experiences along this unthinkable journey. They vividly recall the family, friends, and tribal world they left far behind them and their desperate efforts to keep track of one another. This is a captivating memoir of Sudan and a powerful portrait of war as seen through the eyes of children. And it is, in the end, an inspiring and unforgettable tribute to the tenacity of even the youngest human spirits.
334 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2005
About the author
Benson Deng
4 books29 followersBenson Deng (born 1984) is a South Sudanese writer and one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. He is best known as the co-author of the book They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky (2005).
The story begins when Benson was seven years old, as part of the Dinka tribe. Sudanese National Islamic militants attacked his village, Juol, Sudan, and he fled with his brother and cousin at the age of five. Wearing only his underwear he, along with thousands of other boys, traveled a thousand miles across Sudan to Ethiopia on foot, without parents, facing crocodiles, yellow fever, chronic hunger and thirst, and militants along the way. Refugee camps which he arrived at like Panyido were already crowded, and contained 50,000 people or more.
In Ethiopia, he learned the English alphabet by writing with his finger in the sand, using limited materials from the UN. He was forced out of Ethiopia when militants attacked the camp that he was staying at very near the border, at the River Gilo. Benson arrived in Natinga after, a rebel army camp. Promised that he would be arriving in a safe camp with education, he was disappointed to see that he was instead led to do manual labor, and fight for the rebel cause. He escaped after his relatives left the camp, in a group of 12 boys. Seeing that people had died while resting in shade after a long trek, he left his resting group and marched alone to safety.He reached Kenya met his family and began his education again, but he was soon struck with a serious skin illness. This disease, called River Blindness, made it impossible for him to sit and attend class. So for five years he taught himself English. Lying on his stomach in his hut, he would copy essentials of grammar and vocabulary into his hand-written composition book.
Deng arrived to America on August 9, 2001 and began work at a grocery store. Today he runs the computer digital photography system at Waste Management Corporation in El Cajon, California.
Once in America, his brother and cousin began writing about their experiences. Joni Evans, VP of William Morris, sold their book to Public Affairs. Released on June 13, 2005, it was entitled: They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan.
The story begins when Benson was seven years old, as part of the Dinka tribe. Sudanese National Islamic militants attacked his village, Juol, Sudan, and he fled with his brother and cousin at the age of five. Wearing only his underwear he, along with thousands of other boys, traveled a thousand miles across Sudan to Ethiopia on foot, without parents, facing crocodiles, yellow fever, chronic hunger and thirst, and militants along the way. Refugee camps which he arrived at like Panyido were already crowded, and contained 50,000 people or more.
In Ethiopia, he learned the English alphabet by writing with his finger in the sand, using limited materials from the UN. He was forced out of Ethiopia when militants attacked the camp that he was staying at very near the border, at the River Gilo. Benson arrived in Natinga after, a rebel army camp. Promised that he would be arriving in a safe camp with education, he was disappointed to see that he was instead led to do manual labor, and fight for the rebel cause. He escaped after his relatives left the camp, in a group of 12 boys. Seeing that people had died while resting in shade after a long trek, he left his resting group and marched alone to safety.He reached Kenya met his family and began his education again, but he was soon struck with a serious skin illness. This disease, called River Blindness, made it impossible for him to sit and attend class. So for five years he taught himself English. Lying on his stomach in his hut, he would copy essentials of grammar and vocabulary into his hand-written composition book.
Deng arrived to America on August 9, 2001 and began work at a grocery store. Today he runs the computer digital photography system at Waste Management Corporation in El Cajon, California.
Once in America, his brother and cousin began writing about their experiences. Joni Evans, VP of William Morris, sold their book to Public Affairs. Released on June 13, 2005, it was entitled: They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 794 reviews
April 8, 2008
I could not put this book down! I was somewhat familiar with the Lost Boys of Sudan, but nothing could really prepare me for the childlike perspective of this book. I had to do more than one "reality check" while reading - reminding myself that these are just little kids going through these experiences! And that they are safe and many years have passed.
Despite the emotional and physical tragedy that these boys went through, their resilience is inspiring. It adds perspective to my own life.
Despite the emotional and physical tragedy that these boys went through, their resilience is inspiring. It adds perspective to my own life.
April 19, 2011
I remember about 4 years ago one of my co-workers telling me the incredible story of a boy she had just gone on a date with. He was one of the "lost boys from Sudan." I remember how she told me how he and thousands of little boys crossed the desert of Sudan to arrive in Ethiopia or Kenya for safety. How they fought off crocs and alligators and had little food and water and no parents. These boys were only around the ages of 4 and up. I was really embarrassed to admit to her that I had never heard of what was happening in Sudan and that I did not do anything to help. These boys’ stories of survival are amazing and heart breaking. I can't imagine Jack in 2 years having to survive on his own in a desert. Anyways, I borrowed this book yesterday from a friend and am already over 1/2 way. If I did not have so much going on I would have stayed up all night to finish it. If you don't know much about the Boys of Sudan you must read it.
Update: very insightful, these boys were amazing. Throughout the whole book I kept asking myself if I would have just given up and laid under some shade and died or would I have wanted to survive? What makes someone a survivor? The Lost Boys of Sudan have been through more than probably most people will ever go through. We sure have it good in America. Lots to think about, a must read.
Update: very insightful, these boys were amazing. Throughout the whole book I kept asking myself if I would have just given up and laid under some shade and died or would I have wanted to survive? What makes someone a survivor? The Lost Boys of Sudan have been through more than probably most people will ever go through. We sure have it good in America. Lots to think about, a must read.
July 14, 2014
I highly recommend this book. I think everyone should read it even if you are already knowledgeable about the Second Sudanese Civil War and the plight of "The Lost Boys of Sudan". This term continues to be used, now for the children fleeing the ethnic violence following independence of South Sudan in 2011. I believe you get a fuller, more comprehensive view by following the personal accounts presented in this book than through news reportage. Why? Because the numbers, the figures and the events you see in the news reels become actual people; to feel empathy one needs to get involved in one individual's life experiences. To truly understand you cannot study groups of people; you need to meet each individual, one at a time. You meet three people in this book.
Three boys present their personal first person account of their experiences from the end of the 1980s through to immigration to the US in 2001, although Benjamin emigrates a bit later. The accounts are harrowing, numbing, shocking even to the well-informed reader. Please read the book. Benjamin, Alepho and Benson, the three boys of this book, have my full admiration.
This is a book that must be read for its content not for the skill with which it is written. In the audiobook each of the three boys narrates his own story. Alepho's English pronunciation is difficult to follow. This problem does not arise with the other two.
Three boys present their personal first person account of their experiences from the end of the 1980s through to immigration to the US in 2001, although Benjamin emigrates a bit later. The accounts are harrowing, numbing, shocking even to the well-informed reader. Please read the book. Benjamin, Alepho and Benson, the three boys of this book, have my full admiration.
This is a book that must be read for its content not for the skill with which it is written. In the audiobook each of the three boys narrates his own story. Alepho's English pronunciation is difficult to follow. This problem does not arise with the other two.
August 30, 2022
A memoir of Sudan and a powerful portrait of war as seen through the eyes of children. This book is heart-wrenching and eye-opening, depicting the war in Sudan in an incredibly personal way.
It was hard for me to process the pain these Lost Boys had endured and the book had impressed me with the strength of the human spirit, even in difficult circumstances.
It was hard for me to process the pain these Lost Boys had endured and the book had impressed me with the strength of the human spirit, even in difficult circumstances.
March 25, 2013
"My favorite song was the one below. To sing it, the teacher stood in front of the children who were organized into groups representing continents or countries. The teacher began the song by asking the question. "Who are you?"
One group of children would answer, "We are the Africans."
"And you?"
"We are the Asians."
"And you?"
"We are the Americans."
"And you?"
"We are the Australians."
"And you?"
"We are the Europeans."
"And you?"
"We are the Arabians."
"Forget those names. We are all the children of God."
***
The above passage doesn't sum up this book but more my reasoning why we need to read these kinds of books. It is difficult. It is sad. It is horrifying. And while I know that reading a book won't save a child, won't make their lives easier, won't put food in their bellies or dispell fear from their hearts, it reminds me so loudly of all that I need to be grateful for--first world problems indeed.
I read some other book that dealt with refugees and someone in it asked to imagine being woken up in the middle of the night, sleep still fogging your mind, with no notice, no warning, no time to pack, just leaving everything you know and love behind. Running for your life with whatever you thought to grab and the clothes on your back. And then walking (not driving, not taking a bike, but only the two feet you were born with) to another country, hoping against hope they would "save" you. For an American, this thought is almost impossible to imagine.
These boys did just that. And did it over and over and over. Each place a mirage of respite until the next nightmare began. When this story began, they were 5 years old. 15 years of terror, starvation, illness, and loss. For some, at the time of publication, they are still waiting. And yet, on each page, always, always, always hope. Hope for peace. Hope for something better. Hope for family.
I hope you read this book. America, for all our problems, should continue to strive to be the beacon of hope and dreams. We should strive to be better people, to show more compassion, more kindness, more generosity. Not because we get something in return--respect, praise, love. But because we can. Because in comparison, we universally have so much more, even we individually have less.
We all can't go running out and save the world. But maybe stories like this will remind us to try and be a little kinder, have a little more patience, show a little more mercy. You never know when your action may touch someone who desperately needs hope. And like all tales of survivorship, sometimes hope is all there is.
One group of children would answer, "We are the Africans."
"And you?"
"We are the Asians."
"And you?"
"We are the Americans."
"And you?"
"We are the Australians."
"And you?"
"We are the Europeans."
"And you?"
"We are the Arabians."
"Forget those names. We are all the children of God."
***
The above passage doesn't sum up this book but more my reasoning why we need to read these kinds of books. It is difficult. It is sad. It is horrifying. And while I know that reading a book won't save a child, won't make their lives easier, won't put food in their bellies or dispell fear from their hearts, it reminds me so loudly of all that I need to be grateful for--first world problems indeed.
I read some other book that dealt with refugees and someone in it asked to imagine being woken up in the middle of the night, sleep still fogging your mind, with no notice, no warning, no time to pack, just leaving everything you know and love behind. Running for your life with whatever you thought to grab and the clothes on your back. And then walking (not driving, not taking a bike, but only the two feet you were born with) to another country, hoping against hope they would "save" you. For an American, this thought is almost impossible to imagine.
These boys did just that. And did it over and over and over. Each place a mirage of respite until the next nightmare began. When this story began, they were 5 years old. 15 years of terror, starvation, illness, and loss. For some, at the time of publication, they are still waiting. And yet, on each page, always, always, always hope. Hope for peace. Hope for something better. Hope for family.
I hope you read this book. America, for all our problems, should continue to strive to be the beacon of hope and dreams. We should strive to be better people, to show more compassion, more kindness, more generosity. Not because we get something in return--respect, praise, love. But because we can. Because in comparison, we universally have so much more, even we individually have less.
We all can't go running out and save the world. But maybe stories like this will remind us to try and be a little kinder, have a little more patience, show a little more mercy. You never know when your action may touch someone who desperately needs hope. And like all tales of survivorship, sometimes hope is all there is.
September 6, 2009
My awareness of the situation in Sudan was raised when I saw "G-d grew tired of us". Now, I cannot learn enough about the people of Sudan and the heroic efforts of the Lost boys and girls. I think some of the similarities to the Holocaust resonate with me. Like the cruelty, inhumanity, and oppression of innocent people. This book is a first hand account of three Lost boys and their escape from Sudan and immigration to the USA. Their innocence and spirit is inspiring. At times I was so saddened and disturbed by the way other humans treated these young boys I wasn't sure I could continue reading. But then their physical and emotional strength and sheer will to carry on gave me the courage to continue reading. What amazes me about these accounts is that although mankind can be ruthless and evil there are certain angels among the masses who inexplicably rescue and raise the defeated. I am also inspired by the human spirit and it's survival instinct, ability to forgive and capacity to see the beauty in everyday moments.
April 14, 2021
“Tomorrow you must return to Angong’s house,” my mother told me. “She needs help with your nephews. No one is safe here. They want to pour fire on us from the sky.”
March 6, 2012
The author painted a vivid picture of how dangerous the fundamentalist jihad is! The fundamentalist jihad flooded Sudan with troops and told the residents they had the choice of converting to Islam or death. The fundamentalist jihad forced an estimated twenty thousand boys between the ages of five and eleven years to flee from Sudan leaving their families behind. The boys traveled thousands of miles, barefoot, to safety in Kenyan refugee camps via dangerous avenues that many didn’t survive.
In 1983 the north fought the south, Muslims against animists and Christians, and Arabs against blacks. Not only did the fundamentalist jihad want the land and to enslave the people, they wanted control of the oil reserves.
They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky was a heartbreaking read. The Authors did a great job in bringing the survivors stories to life. The hardships that the boys suffered before finding refuse will evoke many emotions with readers.
They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky was an informative and excellent read.
In 1983 the north fought the south, Muslims against animists and Christians, and Arabs against blacks. Not only did the fundamentalist jihad want the land and to enslave the people, they wanted control of the oil reserves.
They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky was a heartbreaking read. The Authors did a great job in bringing the survivors stories to life. The hardships that the boys suffered before finding refuse will evoke many emotions with readers.
They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky was an informative and excellent read.
April 8, 2013
After reading They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky, I had to give myself a reality check because the book was so powerful and moving. The book fills you with so many emotions while reading: Joy, sorrow, amazement, hope, and compassion for each of the three young authors who wrote this book. It was amazing to see what not just people but young children were capable of during a tragic time. They went years without seeing families, clinging only to the hope of that maybe there parents and brothers were still alive. This book is told through the memories of Benjamin Ajak, Alephosian Deng, and Benson Deng, three Lost Boy survivors of the war in Sudan. Their story really changes your point of view on life and how grateful it makes you for what you have and to not worry about those little things you wish you had. The things they do to live would bring tears to your eyes as you realize how lucky we really are. I like the different views and struggles each author describes through his writing and yet they all blend together as a whole and somehow in the end of all the tragedy the three of them reunited and got a chance at a better life in America.
This book is a great eye opener. You feel like you've been an an amazing adventure or you may consider it hell. Either way its been one of my favorite books I've read this year by far. I would most definitely recommend this book out there to anyone who enjoys a good and touching read.
This book is a great eye opener. You feel like you've been an an amazing adventure or you may consider it hell. Either way its been one of my favorite books I've read this year by far. I would most definitely recommend this book out there to anyone who enjoys a good and touching read.
August 19, 2009
This book gives a very literal look through children's eyes into the conflict in the Sudan in the 1980s and 90s. If you would like a bit of material to counter radical Islam's claims of "American imperialism," here's the story of the jallabah (N. Sudanese muslims) and their attack on the oil-rich south, including the wholesale rape and extermination of local tribes, and southern rebel groups' efforts to fight back. The subject matter gets a 5, as I admit I knew nothing about this conflict (other than the fact that Muslims live in a country populated with many small tribes, who war with each other). The story is so plainly told, without much embellishment, as a 5-year-old would. No lofty metaphors, just "Benjamin was left in many pieces by the bomb from the Antonov."
For those interested in Sudanese history, revolution in Africa, instances of genocide, or imperialism in the name of Islam, I recommend this book highly. As a pure read, it is lacking in narrative, and only starts to come together about halfway through the book, when the several protagonists meet back up. That said, it is not unpalatable, and you will learn a bit about the players. Note that today ethnic tensions continue, as does war.
For those interested in Sudanese history, revolution in Africa, instances of genocide, or imperialism in the name of Islam, I recommend this book highly. As a pure read, it is lacking in narrative, and only starts to come together about halfway through the book, when the several protagonists meet back up. That said, it is not unpalatable, and you will learn a bit about the players. Note that today ethnic tensions continue, as does war.
January 1, 2016
An incredibly riveting read about the human costs of war and the realities faced by refugees who are violently uprooted from their homes. And for what? Greedy governments and corrupt officials protecting foreign interest in oil fields! The memories of The Lost Boys (and girls) of Sudan will surely haunt me for a while to come. It will at least make me think twice about where the things I purchase are coming from.
"We'd laugh and joke like that. We had to have humor. It is human nature. No matter how bad the situation is, if you can't find any humor then life is not worth it. " Alepho
"Lose your gun and you lose your life: that was the rebel way. I was thinking while the other boys were singing. I couldn't understand why they were so happy and I started planning how to get away before being recruited into carrying a gun." Benson
"Dinka people have a saying: never mind the person who refuses you food, he is only a glutton. Take a good look at the person who denies you a drink; he is your worst enemy." Benson
"...the process is to find peace in your heart."
"How can I do that? I already don't have peace in my heart."
"That's the question you need to ask yourself (...) How can you find peace yourself? If you answer that question, everybody will answer that question". Alepho
"We'd laugh and joke like that. We had to have humor. It is human nature. No matter how bad the situation is, if you can't find any humor then life is not worth it. " Alepho
"Lose your gun and you lose your life: that was the rebel way. I was thinking while the other boys were singing. I couldn't understand why they were so happy and I started planning how to get away before being recruited into carrying a gun." Benson
"Dinka people have a saying: never mind the person who refuses you food, he is only a glutton. Take a good look at the person who denies you a drink; he is your worst enemy." Benson
"...the process is to find peace in your heart."
"How can I do that? I already don't have peace in my heart."
"That's the question you need to ask yourself (...) How can you find peace yourself? If you answer that question, everybody will answer that question". Alepho
December 21, 2023
*3.75/5 -⭐️
Alephonsion Deng, Benson Deng, and Benjamin Ajak recount the harsh realities of what it is like to be a child in the midst of war, to be a refugee whose life is not valued. Centering the perspective of child civilians during war allows the reader to have a more personable account of the mental, physical, and psychological effects of war on those that are left to navigate life in the midst of it. Alepho, Benson, and Benjamin recall the brief joy of childhood before their lives changes drastically. It is clear by all their accounts that food, community, and education are what allowed them to keep their will to survive despite the numerous times all hope seemed inevitably lost.
They Poured Fire On Us From The Sky is the book you read after having read one that gives more historical and political context surrounding the war in Sudan. If you don’t have atleast a general knowledge of the landscape, it is somewhat of a challenge to follow the boy’s stories. With this being the anniversary edition, footnotes would have been excellent to provide further context for the reader or the writing structure could have been better formatted to weave historical/political background throughout the book. If you don’t mind a few trips to Google for further explanation or background after the mention of names or dates, you’ll get along fine.
I hoped to receive a balance between the comprehensive and personable account of life in Sudan during the war. Despite this, I found myself in horror of how childhood was stolen from these boys, yet in awe of how they still managed to find a way to survive when the odds were greatly stacked against them.
Alephonsion Deng, Benson Deng, and Benjamin Ajak recount the harsh realities of what it is like to be a child in the midst of war, to be a refugee whose life is not valued. Centering the perspective of child civilians during war allows the reader to have a more personable account of the mental, physical, and psychological effects of war on those that are left to navigate life in the midst of it. Alepho, Benson, and Benjamin recall the brief joy of childhood before their lives changes drastically. It is clear by all their accounts that food, community, and education are what allowed them to keep their will to survive despite the numerous times all hope seemed inevitably lost.
They Poured Fire On Us From The Sky is the book you read after having read one that gives more historical and political context surrounding the war in Sudan. If you don’t have atleast a general knowledge of the landscape, it is somewhat of a challenge to follow the boy’s stories. With this being the anniversary edition, footnotes would have been excellent to provide further context for the reader or the writing structure could have been better formatted to weave historical/political background throughout the book. If you don’t mind a few trips to Google for further explanation or background after the mention of names or dates, you’ll get along fine.
I hoped to receive a balance between the comprehensive and personable account of life in Sudan during the war. Despite this, I found myself in horror of how childhood was stolen from these boys, yet in awe of how they still managed to find a way to survive when the odds were greatly stacked against them.
July 21, 2020
An incredible powerful book written by three Lost Boys from the Sudan. Benson, Aleppo, & Benjamin fled their homes in a night of terror when they were less than 7yo. They were separated, starved, beaten, and walked and walked and walked. For years. YEARS. But this is about thousands of young boys just like them who grew up amid the Sudanese Civil War.
Want to know what it’s like to be a child refugee? Read this book.
Want to know what it’s like to be a child refugee? Read this book.
April 16, 2023
Read Around the World: South Sudan
March 20, 2024
[Recensione del 2014]
Ci ho messo quasi un mese a finire questo libro, e non certo perché fosse brutto. È al contrario un libro bellissimo, uno dei più belli letti quest’anno, ma è terribile nel raccontare la violenza inimmaginabile subita da questi bambini. E il fatto che siano storie vere certo non aiuta, perché pensare che questi ragazzi hanno vissuto tutto quel dolore e quella sofferenza atroci fa stare veramente male. Come dice la curatrice nell’epilogo, siamo abituati a vedere le guerre in televisione come se si trattasse di film d’azione, ma la gente queste guerre le vive davvero e venirne a conoscenza è qualcosa che strazia.
I tre autori sono fuggiti dalle loro case, nel Sudan del Sud (Dinkaland) quando avevano da 5 a 7 anni, quindi erano davvero piccolissimi. Sono scappati per tutto il Sudan del Sud, per fuggire dalla violenza dei militari del governo sudanese contro il loro popolo, i Dinka. Sono arrivati prima in Etiopia, poi in Kenya, fino ad approdare infine negli Stati Uniti, dove hanno potuto ricominciare la loro vita, dopo ben quattordici anni passati in fuga o nei campi per rifugiati. Quando scrivono questo libro sono ormai dei giovani sui 20 anni, ma è come se avessero tanti più anni per tutte le atrocità che sono stati costretti a vedere e a subire. Eppure non perdono mai la loro gioia e vitalità di bambini prima e ragazzini poi, sebbene confessino di non essere più abituati a sorridere.
Hanno rischiato di morire di fame decine di volte, così come hanno rischiato di morire per infezioni o malattie come la febbre gialla. Hanno visto durante la loro fuga gli scheletri della gente fuggita prima di loro e poi morta di stenti lungo la strada. Hanno vissuto atroci punizioni in alcuni campi non regolamentari. Hanno bevuto la propria urina per non morire di sete sotto il sole cocente dell’Equatore. Hanno sofferto e visto gli altri soffrire e morire, così tanto da stringere il cuore. Sono stati dichiarati i bambini vittime di guerra più traumatizzati della storia. Sono stati costretti a subire tutto questo a un’età talmente precoce da condizionarne tutta la vita futura. Eppure non si sono persi d’animo, e una volta in America, con l’aiuto della curatrice Judy A. Bernstein e di editor esperti hanno voluto scrivere la loro storia, quella storia che tante persone più adulte di loro hanno preferito tacere e conservare per sempre in sé, perché sarebbe stato troppo doloroso tirarla fuori. Dicono di averlo fatto per dare un ricordo di sé ai propri figli e nipoti. Ma danno anche a noi una testimonianza di importanza fondamentale su quello che è accaduto in Sudan.
Un vero peccato che questo libro non sia tradotto in italiano. È vero che è stato scritto ormai quasi dieci anni fa, ma non mi sembra affatto datato, e spero che qualche editore, se mi sta leggendo, voglia colmare questa lacuna. Consiglio caldamente questo libro a chiunque sia in grado di leggere in inglese.
Ci ho messo quasi un mese a finire questo libro, e non certo perché fosse brutto. È al contrario un libro bellissimo, uno dei più belli letti quest’anno, ma è terribile nel raccontare la violenza inimmaginabile subita da questi bambini. E il fatto che siano storie vere certo non aiuta, perché pensare che questi ragazzi hanno vissuto tutto quel dolore e quella sofferenza atroci fa stare veramente male. Come dice la curatrice nell’epilogo, siamo abituati a vedere le guerre in televisione come se si trattasse di film d’azione, ma la gente queste guerre le vive davvero e venirne a conoscenza è qualcosa che strazia.
I tre autori sono fuggiti dalle loro case, nel Sudan del Sud (Dinkaland) quando avevano da 5 a 7 anni, quindi erano davvero piccolissimi. Sono scappati per tutto il Sudan del Sud, per fuggire dalla violenza dei militari del governo sudanese contro il loro popolo, i Dinka. Sono arrivati prima in Etiopia, poi in Kenya, fino ad approdare infine negli Stati Uniti, dove hanno potuto ricominciare la loro vita, dopo ben quattordici anni passati in fuga o nei campi per rifugiati. Quando scrivono questo libro sono ormai dei giovani sui 20 anni, ma è come se avessero tanti più anni per tutte le atrocità che sono stati costretti a vedere e a subire. Eppure non perdono mai la loro gioia e vitalità di bambini prima e ragazzini poi, sebbene confessino di non essere più abituati a sorridere.
Hanno rischiato di morire di fame decine di volte, così come hanno rischiato di morire per infezioni o malattie come la febbre gialla. Hanno visto durante la loro fuga gli scheletri della gente fuggita prima di loro e poi morta di stenti lungo la strada. Hanno vissuto atroci punizioni in alcuni campi non regolamentari. Hanno bevuto la propria urina per non morire di sete sotto il sole cocente dell’Equatore. Hanno sofferto e visto gli altri soffrire e morire, così tanto da stringere il cuore. Sono stati dichiarati i bambini vittime di guerra più traumatizzati della storia. Sono stati costretti a subire tutto questo a un’età talmente precoce da condizionarne tutta la vita futura. Eppure non si sono persi d’animo, e una volta in America, con l’aiuto della curatrice Judy A. Bernstein e di editor esperti hanno voluto scrivere la loro storia, quella storia che tante persone più adulte di loro hanno preferito tacere e conservare per sempre in sé, perché sarebbe stato troppo doloroso tirarla fuori. Dicono di averlo fatto per dare un ricordo di sé ai propri figli e nipoti. Ma danno anche a noi una testimonianza di importanza fondamentale su quello che è accaduto in Sudan.
Un vero peccato che questo libro non sia tradotto in italiano. È vero che è stato scritto ormai quasi dieci anni fa, ma non mi sembra affatto datato, e spero che qualche editore, se mi sta leggendo, voglia colmare questa lacuna. Consiglio caldamente questo libro a chiunque sia in grado di leggere in inglese.
November 28, 2022
A journey of The Lost Boys from Sudan from poverty, undeveloped and war torn country , leaving families and friends ones. They were so young, and their accounts of escaping on their own is just so heartbreaking.
Author successfully made a touching effects by relating the boys’ feelings directly from them. I felt like i was growing up with them as they escaped from small young boys, to teenagers.
Although i feel it is a bit biased on the generalisation of Islam rebels. How the author describe the religion, i feel she is generalising. Or maybe i should read up more on them?
Author successfully made a touching effects by relating the boys’ feelings directly from them. I felt like i was growing up with them as they escaped from small young boys, to teenagers.
Although i feel it is a bit biased on the generalisation of Islam rebels. How the author describe the religion, i feel she is generalising. Or maybe i should read up more on them?
April 28, 2016
If you are in a cozy part of a library or on a warm, soft bed while reading this, you have a lot to thank for.
This is the story of three boys from Sudan who were displaced from their homes and their families by the forces of President Omar al Bashir (wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes).
Forced to flee to Southern Sudan (now the newest state of South Sudan, but also riven by civil war) where they were bombed and pursued by Sudanese government forces and also conscripted by South Sudanese rebel forces, then to Ethiopia and Kenya where they were often treated as unwelcome strangers and abused, they were among a few who eventually resettled in the US.
The boys, with the help of co-author Judy Bernstein, are simple in their honesty and depiction of the suffering of the South Sudanese: Villages bombed, burned, and raided; men massacred and women and children abducted; refugees forced to flee their homes and trudge in desert and barren wilderness with no food and water for days; people often forced to fend for themselves and struggle even against their fellow refugees, a situation almost like a Hobbesian "war of man against every man".
But their story had a happy turn and they are now safe in the US.
So did you just say thanks?
I did.
This is the story of three boys from Sudan who were displaced from their homes and their families by the forces of President Omar al Bashir (wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes).
Forced to flee to Southern Sudan (now the newest state of South Sudan, but also riven by civil war) where they were bombed and pursued by Sudanese government forces and also conscripted by South Sudanese rebel forces, then to Ethiopia and Kenya where they were often treated as unwelcome strangers and abused, they were among a few who eventually resettled in the US.
The boys, with the help of co-author Judy Bernstein, are simple in their honesty and depiction of the suffering of the South Sudanese: Villages bombed, burned, and raided; men massacred and women and children abducted; refugees forced to flee their homes and trudge in desert and barren wilderness with no food and water for days; people often forced to fend for themselves and struggle even against their fellow refugees, a situation almost like a Hobbesian "war of man against every man".
But their story had a happy turn and they are now safe in the US.
So did you just say thanks?
I did.
April 21, 2011
when I began to read this book, it vividly brought back those mysterious and memories of the atrocities and disaster that affected million of southern Sudanese including young people so call "lost boys/girls from Sudan" . fortunately, I'm one of those who were lucky to reach to United State but a lot of colleagues didn't make it.I think the book play a huge part of reminiscing the terrible life that a child was exposed to at earlier age not knowing the world around him.and the struggling in refuge camps was inhuman and I'm glad the war is finally ended and people begun to go home and reunified with their families and love one.Sudan 22 years of civil war will be remembered for decades. overall, it's a nice book to read if you are interesting to know how different the world is base on basic human needs and privileges.
December 15, 2016
It's hard to give this heartbreaking and tragic story an average rating, but this wasn't a page turner for me, only because of how it was written: very simply and straightforward, kind of like a diary, but more so because the book jumped between the three boys' narratives, it was hard to follow. I'd often have to stop to remind myself whose story I was reading about. Since they were separated from each other throughout most of their experiences, it might have been better written to keep each boy's story separate, then have them come together at the end.
Still, the story of the Lost Boys was one I knew nothing about, as most African history and current events are given little attention in the modern world's news, and I'm happy to have read it.
Still, the story of the Lost Boys was one I knew nothing about, as most African history and current events are given little attention in the modern world's news, and I'm happy to have read it.
August 8, 2022
Rounded up from 3.5. I liked this book but not as much as I expected. I found that the random order of the three boys’ chapters made it hard to get to know them as individuals until about the middle of the book. Although I know it’s a collection of Benson, Alepho, and Benjamin’s memories and stories, I would’ve liked some more historical context weaved in. We’re seeing these events unfold essentially through the eyes of children and I don’t think adding context would take away from their stories but rather nicely supplement them.
May 25, 2013
This is a very compelling book. Children who survive against all odds and terrifying conditions. A book everyone should read to create understanding. Hearing the survivors speak in person in Huntington Beach was very exciting for me.
January 5, 2024
Everyone needs to read this book. The historical conflict within this book started in the 80s and the ramifications are still seen to this day in 2024. Although the content was hard to read for most of the book, I can only imagine that it was severely sugar coated when compared to the real life experiences/perspectives. The only criticism I have is that I wished they added more chapters in Part 4 of Benson, Alepho, and Benjamin becoming integrated w American culture and also to see how their interpersonal relationships were or were not affected in this foreign country. Also would love to know if they ever went back to Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, etc to visit their fam or try to better the situations they made it out of…a part 2 for this book is more than appropriate.
“I have no photos as a child. These are my memories for my children and my grandchildren so that they will not forget me.” -Benjamin Ajak
“I have no photos as a child. These are my memories for my children and my grandchildren so that they will not forget me.” -Benjamin Ajak
May 20, 2020
This true story is told by three boys who've "endured and witnessed as small children things that permanently scar mature soldiers" (309). In their home country of Sudan, a civil war erupts and destroys their home town, inevitably separating families as they scramble for safety and survival. For fourteen years, the three boys seek asylum, evading death every step of the way. This account of their experiences opens readers' eyes to conflicts that are truly happening in other parts of the world. It opens readers' eyes to a childhood as a Sudanese refugee—a horrific story of survival and bravery.
February 21, 2019
Every individual's journey is important but this one is even more significant because it involves losing a family, witnessing the death of friends and cousins, bearing the pain of separation that too in starvation. I guess it's a miracle how these boys survived the hell of long walks in dangerous forests and unfair beating and biased treatment from the soldiers. At last, the heaven of education and a better life was offered to them.
We all must read this book and feel the pain and sufferings of the War Victims and show empathy to the refugees around us.
We all must read this book and feel the pain and sufferings of the War Victims and show empathy to the refugees around us.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2018
They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky is a truly heart-wrenching novel that depicts the agony and struggle endured by the Lost Boys from Sudan. This novel is told by Benson Deng, Alephonsion Deng, and Benjamin Ajak with the help of Judy A. Bernstein. The three men tell their story of how they survived the awful war that took place in Sudan. The book is beautifully written in four different sections: The Village of Juol, Like Ants Spewing from the Nest, Lost Boys, and Preparing for America. Each part gives us some insight on each chapter of their journey that seemed to last an eternity. These three young men go into significant detail of the hardships they encountered trying to make it to America, which they finally do by the end of the novel. These young men lived day by day- every man for himself; until finally, by some miracle, they were reunited with one another in the end. The war shook the whole world, especially Sudan.
February 23, 2022
This was fascinating. A very tragic but hopeful story. I’m so glad I listened to this book. I will always be intrigued to know more about the continent of Africa and all of the people who live there.
April 6, 2022
This book really put into perspective my life & how grateful I should be for everything I have. I feel as though I should never complain about anything again after reading about the hardships the Lost Boys went through.
March 3, 2017
If ever you needed proof that America should take in refugees, this book is it. Ignore the introduction by Judy Bernstein because it's racist and really aggravating. The rest of the book is easy to read as far as the prose, but difficult in terms of subject matter.
May 30, 2021
I could barely put this down! I didn't know anything about what had/is going on in Sudan so it was really interesting to see the POV of children who went through all of it who didn't pick a side in particular. I highly recommend everyone to read this. It's important to educate ourselves about horrible situations like this and learn from them so it doesn't happen again or continue to happen.
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