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Between Two Rivers
Aruna Kenyi's memoir about his journey from Southern Sudan to Portland, Maine.
96 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2012
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November 17, 2014
Aruna Kenyi, a native of southern Sudan, tells his true story of his escape from his war-torn country. Kenyi's story is as heartbreaking as it is triumphant. As a 5-year-old he is tugged from one village to the next, constantly on the run from the SPLA and the Arab militia, constantly losing and finding various members of his family. He was inspired to tell his story because of his grandmother's talent for storytelling. Kenyi's poetic introduction to his tale ends with this: "My past will remain in my memories no matter what. I will live with it and I will share it with others whenever necessary. But maybe now it is time to share. My grandmother told stories. So do I. Listen."
Kenyi was able to tell his story through Portland's The Telling Room, making this a fabulous selection for Maine students learning about the increasingly multicultural identity of their state. It is also of vital importance to help give African immigrants and refugees a real story and identity, given that there has been a lot of misinformation an resistance from the Mine community when it comes to refugees from other countries. Kenyi's writing style is informal and friendly. The prose sounds as is he is speaking the story to the reader. Because Kenyi is still a resident of Maine, and might be willing to come and tell his story to students, the potential for a transformative experience for students is high. His story leaves a lot of room for historical research. It is serious but also tender, and is not too violent or graphic for sensitive readers. As the subject matter is difficult, I would recommend teaching this book at the upper middle or high school levels.
Kenyi was able to tell his story through Portland's The Telling Room, making this a fabulous selection for Maine students learning about the increasingly multicultural identity of their state. It is also of vital importance to help give African immigrants and refugees a real story and identity, given that there has been a lot of misinformation an resistance from the Mine community when it comes to refugees from other countries. Kenyi's writing style is informal and friendly. The prose sounds as is he is speaking the story to the reader. Because Kenyi is still a resident of Maine, and might be willing to come and tell his story to students, the potential for a transformative experience for students is high. His story leaves a lot of room for historical research. It is serious but also tender, and is not too violent or graphic for sensitive readers. As the subject matter is difficult, I would recommend teaching this book at the upper middle or high school levels.
Displaying 1 of 1 review