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When Invisible Children Sing
Expecting to treat some mildly ill children from the streets of Bolivia on a quick “service trip,” an idealistic young medical student gets more than he bargained for when he takes a year off from Harvard Medical School to work at an orphanage in La Paz. As he comes to know the children, and sees how they live, Chi Huang is drawn deeper and deeper into their complex and desperate lives. The doctor soon realizes that to truly help these children, he will have to follow the example of Jesus: live among them, love them in spite of their brokenness, and cling to his faith in God's goodness, even when it appears it is nowhere to be found. A true story that will inspire and challenge readers to greater faith and action. The book includes a Foreword by Harvard professor and world-renowned expert on the moral and spiritual development of children, Dr. Robert Coles.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 6, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
September 17, 2011
Chi Cheng Huang certainly knows how to write. When he describes the street children he tried to help in Bolivia, it feels like you're right there alongside him. The problems the street kids are facing are uncomfortably similar to the problems American foster children have. Dr. Huang wanted to save everyone he met and he learned, time and time again, that it doesn't work like that. But you can save a few people, one at a time.
Other points of interest: He does describe his childhood and his sister's death and how it affected him, and this adds to the narrative and doesn't distract the reader from the main story. Also, Dr. Huang is a very religious Christian, but he doesn't spend too much time on that either. And the book was written in part to raise funds for his non-profit to help Bolivian street children, but I didn't even find out about that until the very end.
In all, WIN.
Other points of interest: He does describe his childhood and his sister's death and how it affected him, and this adds to the narrative and doesn't distract the reader from the main story. Also, Dr. Huang is a very religious Christian, but he doesn't spend too much time on that either. And the book was written in part to raise funds for his non-profit to help Bolivian street children, but I didn't even find out about that until the very end.
In all, WIN.
April 11, 2024
This book hit a chord in my heart. It gives a vivid reminder of the raw reality of so many street children in so many cities around the world.
Dr. Huang writes without the cynicism that seems inevitable when your heart is daily affected by the darkness of this world harming the most vulnerable.
Dr. Huang writes without the cynicism that seems inevitable when your heart is daily affected by the darkness of this world harming the most vulnerable.
July 25, 2008
"All God’s children are created equal. But who really lives as if they believe this? One first world baby stuck at the bottom of a well generates more heartfelt anxiety than the 100 million children trapped on the streets of the developing world ever will.” pg. 232
This heart-wrenching first hand account of street children in Bolivia is a challenge to the reader's thinking about God, His love, and what love in Christ's name looks like.
This heart-wrenching first hand account of street children in Bolivia is a challenge to the reader's thinking about God, His love, and what love in Christ's name looks like.
June 25, 2022
Chi Huang spent six months living in La Paz, Bolivia, as the doctor for two orphanages for street children. So many of those who lived in the streets fell out of the gambit of the care of the orphanages. At night, along with a volunteer from one of the homes, Chi would go with medical supplies in his backpack offering care. He wanted to get to know the stories of the people living in the streets, to understand the street culture, to listen to them, and know what they needed in order to be free from their poverty and addictions. From this confronting, challenging and heartbreaking period, Chi learned a lot about himself as well as about the “invisible” people, and a lifelong commitment to providing opportunities for dreams to become reality was born.
May 30, 2017
I read this book in order to learn about the street children of Bolivia, and I read to the end because I wanted to gain as much information as I could. Unfortunately, this book is less about the children, and more about the author's own life and journey. There are entire chapters about his childhood, and the book seems to focus more on his challenges and triumphs than it does on the children. I was also bothered by the fact that he was proud to be handing out Bible verses in addition to providing medical attention. I'm glad I read about the children, but I really wish they had been the true focus of the book.
January 17, 2022
Though the story unfolds in Bolivia, it reminded me of my time in the Philippines. This book walks where only a dare few tread. It exposes the horrific lives of street children. It reveals the humanity of children lost in substance abuse, child prostitution and familial violence. It is a book that is humble and understanding, while also revealing compassion fatigue and the hopeless cycle of helping a multigenerational sin problem. Unless the Lord fills the heart of the hurting child with His Love, there is a void that no charitable money, kindness or effort can mend. Found the author brave and faithful, willing to serve the unwashed, unlovely and unseen in Jesus' name.
March 23, 2023
Powerful
An eye-opening narrative of the lives of the “invisible” children of La Paz and El Alto, Bolivia. It isn’t revelatory to anyone with even a mild social consciousness. We know about these children. But it is real, and heart felt, and necessarily disturbing. I didn’t give it five stars probably because it left me with another hole in my already perforated heart. That is not the author’s fault…or perhaps it is, quite deliberately. It is worth reading if for no other reason then to drag us back into a reality that we would rather not look at most of the time. That is important.
An eye-opening narrative of the lives of the “invisible” children of La Paz and El Alto, Bolivia. It isn’t revelatory to anyone with even a mild social consciousness. We know about these children. But it is real, and heart felt, and necessarily disturbing. I didn’t give it five stars probably because it left me with another hole in my already perforated heart. That is not the author’s fault…or perhaps it is, quite deliberately. It is worth reading if for no other reason then to drag us back into a reality that we would rather not look at most of the time. That is important.
November 19, 2021
A hard book to read. I can't begin to imagine that kind of lifestyle or the Author's dedication to working under the conditions that he encountered. His extreme love for the children and love for God and His calling. Then the facing the fact that the children often went back to the streets...so heartbreaking. But in the end he is finally accomplishing many things to help them.
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February 25, 2023I don’t know how to rate this book. It’s a true tear jerker of a story. It talks of a world where there is no CPS to protect the children. It tells the stories of children who have never known a home. Of children who think hunger and cold and violence are normal. And of course it ends with a plea for money. And yet, for all that , I don’t regret reading the book.
August 30, 2021
I enjoyed the way Dr. Chi had some of his own childhood history mixed in. I connected greatly as I felt the world was unjust at an early age and wanted to save everybody with my very obvious solutions. I cried a few times throughout the book. Get some tissue.
October 2, 2018
Absolutely heartbreaking because it's all true. The world is a terrible place to be for these children.
September 29, 2021
I only found this book recently and so glad I did. The story is told with humanity and passion. My heart ached for these dear children. The world is a better place because of people like Dr. Huang.
July 20, 2024
~ Set in Bolivia.
January 4, 2015
Not sure if saying that I liked this book is appropriate - it is not a pleasant read, but it is honest and truthful about the realities of life for street children in Bolivia. And that is why I like it. I read it several months after the death of our baby boy Elijah. This author says that Christmas Day is a hard time for him, years after the death of his own sister. (she died suddenly on that morning) I felt that I could identify with him in this - as we found out that we were pregnant with Elijah on Christmas morning. He does not whitewash the pain of this loss or try to find meaning or purpose in it, both in his own story or of those who live on the street. And yet there is still a sense of Hope in the middle of all of that.
"There are no miracles here....or very few. And if they occur, they are slow, painful, minor miracles. But still these invisible children find voices to sing - to discover hope in their hopelessness, to find courage where there is only fear, to reach out to God when even he seems far away. And at the end of the day, they simply ask to be seen."
"There are no miracles here....or very few. And if they occur, they are slow, painful, minor miracles. But still these invisible children find voices to sing - to discover hope in their hopelessness, to find courage where there is only fear, to reach out to God when even he seems far away. And at the end of the day, they simply ask to be seen."
April 12, 2015
The topic of this book is terribly hard, but Chi Cheng Huang has very important stories to tell. As I read through the hard stuff my thoughts went often to the 2 beautiful Bolivian girls we sponsor through Compassion International. I am so thankful for the work that Dr. Chi and Compassion are doing in Bolivia on behalf of impoverished children. Thankful also to get to be a part in it by sponsoring Laura and Angelica, and writing them letters.
If you sponsor children, advocate for children, I encourage you to read this book. If you are unfamiliar with the plight of extreme poverty in our world, I encourage you to read this book.
If you sponsor children, advocate for children, I encourage you to read this book. If you are unfamiliar with the plight of extreme poverty in our world, I encourage you to read this book.
July 29, 2007
This book was a fairly quick read, but it was very emotional. It's subtitle really describes it well: "An idealistic young doctor, 5 street kids and their dangerous hope." I cried at about 3 differnt points, but if you ever want to have more hope in humanity then you should read this. It's quite inspirational, but be warned, it is not sugar coated at all.
December 3, 2013
Heartbreaking and inspiring for me, this memoir is about Huang's year-long (and now, lifelong) journey to Bolivia to treat street children in La Paz. He casts an unblinking yet compassionate eye at the struggles and triumphs of these forgotten children, telling the individual stories of several of the children he encounters. 4 1/2 to 5 stars. Unforgettable and will influence my future work.
September 9, 2010
This was a phenomenal book. Very well-written. TOUGH to process - it made my brain hurt to try and absorb the reality of life for so many children who live on the streets. It's the kind of book I try to read regularly to remind me that the world is much bigger than my own little circle. There are huge needs out there and this book is very eye-opening. I highly recommend it.
April 28, 2011
This book was well written, and awe inspiring. The book is hard to read, in that it really paints the picture of the street children. It opened my eyes to a whole new world, and I will be forever grateful to Dr Huang for writing it.
I gave it 5 stars because I could not put it down, and am planning on reading it again.
I gave it 5 stars because I could not put it down, and am planning on reading it again.
March 17, 2011
It is good to know that sorrows that go on in the world, but it is hard for me to read. I gave this book a three because it was so disturbing and dark. I don't regret reading it. It made me want to help. It made me so grateful for my life and for the life my children have, but it was really hard to read.
February 4, 2012
Deals with Dr. Chi's experiences while living in Bolivia. He meets the street children each night and treats them for their medical problems. He gets to know some of them very well. They share their personal stories with him about how they came to live on the streets. Some of the stories in this book will break your heart. Dr. Chi asks us to "see" his invisible children.
April 20, 2014
It's about as sad of a book as you might think from reading the jacket. I wish no one had to live on the street. I believe Bolivia is the poorest country in all of Central and South America, and this focuses on a few children on the streets of La Paz. I'm grateful for the author's efforts to help these children.
April 24, 2014
The author has a passion for street children, and during his medical studies, asks for a year sabbatical to go to Bolivia. He connects with an orphanage as their doctor, but then goes to the streets to both treat the kids, and talk to them about options they have to get off the streets. He uses music, futbol, and constancy to gain their trust.
April 4, 2007
This book is written by a medical student who travels to Bolivia to help the street children. It was good, but sobering in many regards. It re-affirms your belief in good people who are trying to make a difference.
April 1, 2008
The travels of soon-to-be doctor to Bolivia. He works with the street children, befriending them, learning their pain and struggles.
It's interwoven with his own story. A beautiful, and, at times, painful read about the reality of poverty and abuse among these neglected children.
It's interwoven with his own story. A beautiful, and, at times, painful read about the reality of poverty and abuse among these neglected children.
April 10, 2012
I am in awe of people like Dr Chi--sacrificing everything to bring medical care to the street children of Bolivia. It was awful to learn of the lives of these kids, but I'm glad I read this book. I finished grateful and inspired.
July 31, 2011
A captivating yet heart-wrenching account of the lives of homeless children on the streets and a physician with a huge heart. It could have been twice as long and I would have kept right on reading!!!
March 1, 2013
What an amazing book. The author can speak from a place of authenticity, as he walked alongside these street children. He did not fear embracing their pain or entering into their suffering. I hope someday to help these children in meaningful ways.
July 11, 2015
A very gripping memoir of a young american doctor who goes to Bolivia to work with street children. Made me cry and grew my compassion, so I absolutely recommend. At times heartbreaking though, and don't expect to come away from this read without being challenged or moved to some sort of action!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews