

Lexile Measure: 900 (What's this?)
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books (October 12, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 142630708X
ISBN-13: 978-1426307089
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #57,722 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #5 in Books > Teens > Social Issues > Violence #17 in Books > Teens > Biographies > Cultural Heritage #23 in Books > Children's Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Difficult Discussions > Violence
Age Range: 12 and up
Grade Level: 7 and up

John and Martha, as children growing up in Sudan in the 1980s, both find themselves caught in the midst of a growing civil war. Both are forced to flee their homes, and travel hundreds of miles on foot, suffering thirst, hunger, and sickness, in order to find safety in Ethiopia. But their refuge proves only temporary, when a new government takes charge of Ethiopia, the refugees are violently forced back into Sudan, where war still rages. Both John and Martha find the courage and hope to survive despite their awful circumstances. And both John and Martha survive to build better lives for themselves.The book does describe many violent acts, including deaths involving animals and warfare, but they are not graphically portrayed. If you decide to use the book in a classroom, you'll want to pre-read to make sure the material is appropriate for your students. The story is a powerful one, about survival, hope, and the difference that one person or group of people can make.
I had no idea the extint of the war in Sudan. I remember hearing about the wars while I was in high school. The book is told from the viewpoint of John and Martha, who ended up in America where they married. Told in their words, John and Martha weave a tale of human resilience.Thousands of children were orphaned during the war. My heart broke for all the hunger and pain and sorrow they went through. And the adults who tried to help them.John and Martha have a happy ending, which is nice!Rating: PG (for war theme, death and hardship)V: yes but not in detailL: NoneS: None
What an awesome book. I read it after my 14 year old son read it for his Human Geography class. I was completely moved by the story and my heart broke for all of the refugees.
John Dau spoke at my high school and was amazing. I immediately bought the book. John and his wife are incredible survivors and I am honored to have met them.
Initially, this book was purchased for a school assignment for a family memeber. However, I found myself simply captivated as it gave me some insight on the variables that contribute to the civil unrest and injustices in Sudan. Also, the heroic bravery and determination of John and Mary in their pursuit of freedom and reconnecting with their families.
Very well written from the standpoint of children actually experiencing the civil war in the Sudan. Marching as displaced persons 500 miles to one country and then war in that country forcing them to march another 500 miles to a second nation raises an awareness of the abuses brought on by civil wars. At the same time their resilience is astounding.
Truly inspiring book. An excellent book for students. In our society where kids are for the most part spoiled with all the conveniences of life and sometimes feel entitled it can teach respect, appreciation and humility.
I thought the book was easy to read, moved along quickly and very informative, especially if you didn't know much about the history of the South Sudanese refugees. I've read most of the books written by or about the "Lost Boys," and this was definitely one of the better ones.
Lost Boy, Lost Girl: Escaping Civil War in Sudan Sons of Privilege: The Charleston Light Dragoons in the Civil War (Civil War Sesquicentennial Edition) (Civil War Sesquicentennial Edition (University of South Carolina Press)) They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan The Lost Boys of Sudan: An American Story of the Refugee Experience Sudan, Darfur and the Nomadic Conflicts (Our World Divided) This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War (Vintage Civil War Library) The Civil War (True Books: Civil War (Paperback)) Top Secret Files: The Civil War: Spies, Secret Missions, and Hidden Facts from the Civil War (Top Secret Files of History) The Heart of Confederate Appalachia: Western North Carolina in the Civil War (Civil War America) The Civil War: A Narrative: Volume 3: Red River to Appomattox (Vintage Civil War Library) Photographic History of The Civil War: Vicksburg to Appomattox (Civil War Times Illustrated) (v. 2) The Battle of First Bull Run: The Civil War Begins (Graphic Battles of the Civil War) The First Republican Army: The Army of Virginia and the Radicalization of the Civil War (A Nation Divided: Studies in the Civil War Era) A Broken Regiment: The 16th Connecticut's Civil War (Conflicting Worlds: New Dimensions of the American Civil War) Don Troiani's Civil War Cavalry & Artillery (Don Troiani's Civil War Series) Citizen-officers: The Union and Confederate Volunteer Junior Officer Corps in the American Civil War (Conflicting Worlds: New Dimensions of the American Civil War) Don Troiani's Civil War Infantry (Don Troiani's Civil War Series) Don Troiani's Civil War Zouaves, Chasseurs, Special Branches, & Officers (Don Troiani's Civil War Series) Behind the Blue and Gray: The Soldier's Life in the Civil War (Young Readers' History of the Civil War) Dispatches from Bermuda: The Civil War Letters of Charles Maxwell Allen, United States Consul at Bermuda, 1861-1888 (Civil War in the North)