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A Hare in the Elephant's Trunk by Jan L Coates
2011 Governor General s Literary Award for Children s Text Nominee Independent Publisher Book Award Silver Medalist 2011 2011 Skipping Stones Honor Award winner On the 2011 USBBY Outstanding International Books honor list Ann Conner Brimer Award for Children s Literature finalist 2011 2011 Snow Willow Award nominee A 2012 Woozles Battle of the Books Elementary List Title A 2012 Woozles Battle of the Books Teen List Title When civil war strikes Jacob Deng s Southern Sudanese village seven year old Jacob embarks on a seemingly endless journey that tests his courage and determination His wise mama tells him that he must one day go to school to seek answers and help carve a better future for his people Wadeng is a Dinka word meaning look to the future it will be better follow your dreams and it along with his precious Mama stone becomes Jacob s talisman of hope helping him remain strong on his seven year search for a place of refuge Jacob and his young friends are confronted with war starvation dehydration raging rivers crocodile and lion attacks and the evil Majok the constant thorn in Jacob s side as they struggle to survive on their own As the boys work and grow together as a family surviving in harsh conditions against the odds Jacob s boyhood desire to become a soldier wanes Gradually he comes to the realization that fighting doesn t improve anything and begins to embrace his mother s belief in education as the road to peace and stability Inspired by the real life experiences of a Lost Boy of Sudan this novel is about an extraordinary journey of courage perseverance and hope In the little village of Duk Padiet in southern Sudan a boy named Jacob Deng thrives on the love of his mother the companionship of his sisters the excitement of learning how to look after his uncle s herds of cattle The year is 1987 and suddenly in the night soldiers from the north invade the village looting burning and killing The war has a
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First published January 9, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 39 reviews
January 29, 2015
I picked this book up at the second hand book store and it was great. The things the boys had to go threw breaks my heart. The courage of them is inspiring. The way the friends shared what they had when they hardly had anything was inspirational. I felt honored to be able to read these boys stories and everyone else who does should feel the same.
May 29, 2020
Well, it is my book:)
October 29, 2020
I enjoyed this book. It follows the lost boys of Sudan, specifically Jacob Deng. Its based on a true story, telling the experiences he went through, and what it was like as a lost boy trying to survive the war. This story makes you realize what goes on outside of our own small world and the pain he went through as you go through the journey with him. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a more serious read or anyone who enjoys reading and learning about real events that happened.
November 27, 2011
I've always wondered why so many stories about the Lost Boys from Sudan are fiction even though they are based on the story of a real person. In an interview with the author at the end of the book, she explains that there is just not enough information recorded about the details of the Lost Boys' treks across Sudan and that many of them were too young (and malnourished) to remember enough for a non-fiction book. Also, none of them had paper (or enough education) to record what was happening at the time.
So the "skeleton" of this book is based on the life of Jacob Akech Deng from Duk Padiet, Southern Sudan with details fleshed out based on the author's research. There are many similarities to What is the What, but this book is written for young adults and has a more optimistic tone than Egger's even though it does not follow Jacob's story beyond Kenya. "The only way to end the violence was to teach people, to show them other choices, help them learn to talk and work together, like the aid workers, instead of against each other like starving, wild animals feeding on hate" (p. 211). Also, there are references to many songs and traditional stories told by the Dinka that add a taste of culture to Coates' book.
Like other books written based on the lives of Lost Boys (A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story), the purchase of this book supports a charity started by the Lost Boy, Jacob's Wadeng Wings of Hope in this case.
So the "skeleton" of this book is based on the life of Jacob Akech Deng from Duk Padiet, Southern Sudan with details fleshed out based on the author's research. There are many similarities to What is the What, but this book is written for young adults and has a more optimistic tone than Egger's even though it does not follow Jacob's story beyond Kenya. "The only way to end the violence was to teach people, to show them other choices, help them learn to talk and work together, like the aid workers, instead of against each other like starving, wild animals feeding on hate" (p. 211). Also, there are references to many songs and traditional stories told by the Dinka that add a taste of culture to Coates' book.
Like other books written based on the lives of Lost Boys (A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story), the purchase of this book supports a charity started by the Lost Boy, Jacob's Wadeng Wings of Hope in this case.
April 7, 2011
The book is based on a true story of one boy from Sudan, part of the lost boys of Sudan. I was moved by the poverty, loss of family and home, but endless hope from this young boy as he searched for a way to get an education. It made me more aware of how much I have and how little I have had to work for my bounties. I'm not sure I could survive under the conditions these young boys did.
May 24, 2021
This is a fantastic, poignant book about the Lost Boys of Sudan. The story of Jacob is sensitively, and vividly presented. It is a novel that would be a great fit for in school reading. I am surprised and disappointed that it was not nominated for the Forest of Reading in the year it was written.
October 31, 2021
4 stars.
I think that it was good for me to read this book because i learend a lot about southern sudan & its history. I also enjoyed the overall story of this book. It had a sappy ending when Jacob found uncle daniel at the end so he could go to school, and i certainly couldn’t walk from south sudan to ethiopia to south sudan to kenya to south sudan and still back to kenya.
I think that it was good for me to read this book because i learend a lot about southern sudan & its history. I also enjoyed the overall story of this book. It had a sappy ending when Jacob found uncle daniel at the end so he could go to school, and i certainly couldn’t walk from south sudan to ethiopia to south sudan to kenya to south sudan and still back to kenya.
May 25, 2023
Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. I hate being that person but o genuinely think everyone should read this, it makes me so sad that so many people have had to go through things like this and are still going through these horrific events. Just wow!
November 26, 2017
It reflect my, our, and their stories,,,
December 17, 2017
Before reading A Hare in the Elephant's Trunk, I really didn't know anything about the civil war in Sudan. I had never heard of the "Lost Boys" of Sudan. When I bought this book, I actually didn't even know it was about the war in Sudan. My school used to recommend a book each week, and this was one of the first ones that they recommended. I bought it a while ago, and started it when I was getting tired of fantasy and realized it was based on the true story of Jacob Deng, a boy who lived in South Sudan. When his village, Duk Padiet, was bombed, Jacob and his nephew Monyroor started on a long journey to Ethiopia. On their way, they found a line of hundreds of boys who had also seen their homes destroyed. They went to Pinyudo Refugee Camp in Ethiopia, but were forced out when Ethiopia's own problems intensified. Jacob and the Lost Boys walked for months at a time, with hardly any food or water. Jacob survived through horrifying circumstances, and he learned that his most important goal was to go to school so he could learn to solve problems without violence.
I learned so much from this book about the situation in South Sudan. In the beginning, I was deterred from reading it because [Jan L. Coates]'s writing style seemed awkward, as if she was trying hard to simplify her language for younger readers. However, as the book progressed the writing style improved and I became much more immersed in the story. Although the book is fiction, it is based on Jacob Deng's story and Coates's research about the war in Sudan and the Lost Boys. It was enlightening for me, especially since I had never learned about the Sudanese war except from short news stories. I would recommend this book for everyone, because it is about an important current event and illuminates the horrors that war places on children. Although the book is written for young readers, I would recommend it for both children and adults because the subject matter is certainly important for mature readers to learn about. In addition, some of the profits from each book sold go to Jacob Deng's foundation, Wadeng Wings of Hope, which raises money for children in South Sudan to get an education. For more information, go to www.wadeng.org. This book is also a strong reminder of why education is so important, so it is particularly good for students who lack motivation. Although I did not personally love the writing style, I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.
December 13, 2011
A wee-written and thought-provoking book. I have read some on the Lost Boys but this book made me want to read more. I will be passing this one on to my kids to read and reccomending it at our library. My only wish is that this was a non-fiction account-I didn't like wondering what was fact and what was fiction...which isn't a criticism. I want to find out more about Jacob and his life here in Canada....perhaps there will be a sequal? I hope so!!! Thanks for writing this book, Mrs. Coates!!!
January 24, 2011
A vivid, well-written, inspirational story about "lost boys" struggling to survive in war-ravaged Sudan. The story centering on protagonist Jacob Deng is based upon the real-life experiences of a Sudanese boy who eventually emigrated to Canada. Includes insightful interviews with the author and the real-life Jacob. There is a growing body of literature for young people about Sudan and this novel stands out among those books.
January 15, 2012
I've read many middle grade books about the Lost Boys, looking for just that book which would appeal to just the right student, one who needs a challenge to his or her thinking, a deeper set of ideas to explore. This is the first one of those I've read which acknowledges the intelligence of young readers, which exposes them to hard ideas without sugar coating or stepping away for reality. I've put it in my school library and look forward to sharing it with students.
April 5, 2018
A Hare in the Elephant's Trunk was a very good book in my opinion. Before reading this I didn't know that there was even a conflict between north and south Sudan. It helped me to better understand Jacob's life in Sudan and what the violence and struggles the boys went through to get to where they wanted. Good book and I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about the war in north and south Sudan.
January 19, 2019
Story of Sudanese boys who have to flee Sudanese war to try to get to safety in Ethiopia, but end up - after many trials in Kenya. Based on true story of boys who actually did this. I met one during my time in Kenya. A good read . Recommend to children 10+ years
May 3, 2011
This book is more interesting than engaging. It really shows the hardships these boys had to go through, and the meaning of education and love.
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October 27, 2011I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. I think students would like it too. It covers the story of the lost boys very well. I got it from the IUS Library.
March 26, 2012
Gripping tale of the "lost boys" of Somalia. Makes you wonder how anyone can live under the conditions that these children faced daily for years. Great novel!
April 23, 2013
Excellent book, every parent could benefit from reading this book and sharing it with their children. The perseverance of the characters is astounding.
March 1, 2015
This book shows you how important a good heart is!
February 16, 2015
This story was touchingly real and brought the story into focus. For those of us that do volunteer work in Africa, it has the potential to awaken many memories.
April 2, 2015
WAS AWSEOME
March 3, 2018
Good book, opened my eyes to the hardships so many Lost Boys endured.
April 9, 2013
Gentle story, very sad, but ends with hope. :)Love reading books from a child's perspective.
September 11, 2025
Very well written and definitely keeps your interest.
December 19, 2024
Very insightful look at the Lost Boys of the Sudan. Well written. Flowed.
May 5, 2022
A gripping, moving, hard to put down must-read!
In 1983, southern Sudan was thrust into civil war and thousands of boys were displaced. Families and whole villages were destroyed, torn apart, lost forever.
This story is based on the true story of Jacob Deng who was a child of the Sudan. The author, Jan Coates, has masterfully woven fiction around the deeply moving, horrific story of a young child running for his life. Jacob was only seven years old when his village was raided and he barely escaped certain death. Having to leave his mother behind, along with everything he knew, he began walking for what turned into many months, and along the way he joined up with hundreds of others – all boys – on the same journey. After crossing a crocodile-infested river the survivors became refugees in another country, but even there they were not safe.
This is such a gripping, well-written story that at times I gasped, aloud said, “oh no!”, and winced at the suffering and struggles those young children endured. Hungry, afraid, and without their parents, they did what they knew to do – stay together, keep walking, keep ahead of the enemy, and somehow survive another day of exposure to the elements and wild animals. This is one of those books that was truly hard to put down – when eating and sleeping seemed a nuisance while reading a story in which both food and sleep were hard to come by for those children.
A Hare in the Elephant’s Trunk is not overly graphic to read, but at the same time it is real. Jan wrote a powerfully descriptive story that pulls the reader into the life and climate of Africa where daily existence is fraught with the challenge simply to survive. And this story is a story of survival and the strength of the human will along with an underlying faith to rise above one’s circumstances.
The amazing gem is that Jan Coates met Jacob Deng here in Nova Scotia, and after talking with him she felt compelled to write his story. The result, A Hare in the Elephant’s Trunk, has gained well deserved attention, and was listed as a 2011 finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award.
In the back of the book there is an interview with Joseph Deng. There is even a glossary to which the reader can refer to understand the meaning of some African words, such as abaar, which means orphan, and wadeng – a Dinka word which means look always to tomorrow; it will be better.
This book is an excellent way to learn about the story of the Lost Boys of Sudan. Proceeds from the sale of A Hare in the Elephant’s Trunk are shared with Jacob’s charity Wadeng Wings of Hope, which is another good reason to add this novel to your personal library.
In 1983, southern Sudan was thrust into civil war and thousands of boys were displaced. Families and whole villages were destroyed, torn apart, lost forever.
This story is based on the true story of Jacob Deng who was a child of the Sudan. The author, Jan Coates, has masterfully woven fiction around the deeply moving, horrific story of a young child running for his life. Jacob was only seven years old when his village was raided and he barely escaped certain death. Having to leave his mother behind, along with everything he knew, he began walking for what turned into many months, and along the way he joined up with hundreds of others – all boys – on the same journey. After crossing a crocodile-infested river the survivors became refugees in another country, but even there they were not safe.
This is such a gripping, well-written story that at times I gasped, aloud said, “oh no!”, and winced at the suffering and struggles those young children endured. Hungry, afraid, and without their parents, they did what they knew to do – stay together, keep walking, keep ahead of the enemy, and somehow survive another day of exposure to the elements and wild animals. This is one of those books that was truly hard to put down – when eating and sleeping seemed a nuisance while reading a story in which both food and sleep were hard to come by for those children.
A Hare in the Elephant’s Trunk is not overly graphic to read, but at the same time it is real. Jan wrote a powerfully descriptive story that pulls the reader into the life and climate of Africa where daily existence is fraught with the challenge simply to survive. And this story is a story of survival and the strength of the human will along with an underlying faith to rise above one’s circumstances.
The amazing gem is that Jan Coates met Jacob Deng here in Nova Scotia, and after talking with him she felt compelled to write his story. The result, A Hare in the Elephant’s Trunk, has gained well deserved attention, and was listed as a 2011 finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award.
In the back of the book there is an interview with Joseph Deng. There is even a glossary to which the reader can refer to understand the meaning of some African words, such as abaar, which means orphan, and wadeng – a Dinka word which means look always to tomorrow; it will be better.
This book is an excellent way to learn about the story of the Lost Boys of Sudan. Proceeds from the sale of A Hare in the Elephant’s Trunk are shared with Jacob’s charity Wadeng Wings of Hope, which is another good reason to add this novel to your personal library.
May 25, 2016
When the Sudanese civil war reached his home village, seven-year-old Jacob had to run for his life...and then walk, and walk, and walk, all the way to a refugee camp in Ethiopia. He spent several years in the camp, only to be forced out by the Ethiopians. Then he had to walk to a refugee camp in Kenya, and while there, he learned a lesson that his mother had tried to teach him years before: that education is the way to a better life. As he sets out to learn all that he can, he also holds onto another lesson from his mother: Wadeng, or look always to tomorrow because it will be better.
This is an inspiring look at a boy's will to survive, even as he is away from his family and forced to live in extremely humble conditions. At times, the writing can be somewhat dry, but still, it's an important story and an eye-opening one for readers who may not know about the Lost Boys of Sudan.
This is an inspiring look at a boy's will to survive, even as he is away from his family and forced to live in extremely humble conditions. At times, the writing can be somewhat dry, but still, it's an important story and an eye-opening one for readers who may not know about the Lost Boys of Sudan.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 39 reviews