The Journey of the Lost Boys: A Story of Courage Faith And the Sheer Determination to Survive by a Group of Young Children Called the Lost Boys of Sudan""

by Joan Hecht

For the first time, “The Journey of the Lost Boys” offers readers a chronological timeline of the epic journey taken by these children, beginning in their rural villages of Southern Sudan and ending with their arrival as young men to the United States. Narrated through the voice of Joan Hecht, one of their American mentors, whom they lovingly call “mom” or “Mama Joan;” “The Journey of the Lost Boys” is a compelling story of courage, faith and the sheer determination to survive by a group of young orphaned boys. Because of Ms. Hecht’s personal relationship with them, she is able to portray their story in a way that most famous reporters and authors cannot. In addition to her extensive research of the political and historical events surrounding this long lasting civil war, are the heart-rending personal stories of the boys themselves.

Genres: Sudan, Nonfiction

168 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2005

Reviews

[Alice]

I've seen the movie based on this book and was so moved by these boys. I used it as the basis of week long lesson at school on global diversity. Unbelievable story and experience that Americans can learn much from.

[Hayesmill]

The lost boys of sudan is written by joan hecht. The story is told in third person which makes the story easier to see what is happening in every chapter. There is a new character in every chapter like in the first chapter there was an event. “she screamed in pain and shortly after she began to vomit.” this shows an intense and gripping mood. The gripping mood makes it more adventurous. In another part “bap...ba...bap….bap! The sounds of screams and commotion followed.” This creates an exciting mood. It makes an exciting mood because everyone is screaming and panicked. The fact that it is in third person makes it more exciting because in this quote you get to see an overview of what is happening.

This in an adventure book because of the way it is shaped in. It makes it feel like you are looking through the characters eyes here is an example “I saw abul run straight towards the deadly cobra as she played.” I absolutely love this book because in every chapter they focus on a different character. Along the book you will notice there is a conflict challenge or risk and there is a new setting. With many more. The conflict challenge or risk is when they had to march 1,000 miles. There a new setting is in every chapter.


Every chapter there is something titillating which makes the story intriguing. For example, in the beginning of one chapter, “the elders of the tribe came running with spears and without any mercy and killed the deadly cobra.” soon after this event this happens “less than two hours later in the village of kiir abul took her last breath and her body also lay still.” It creates a commoving image that stays in your mind for the whole book. This is one of the best books i've ever read. Because the exotic events. If you like many non-fiction books I would recommend this book!

[Charlie]

These children travel barefoot over 1,000 miles to a refugee camp where they spend another 10 years before offered refuge in this country. Boys disappear in the night preyed upon by wild animals, killed by roving bands of guerillas, starvation, sickness, exhaustion, injuries, thirst, and still they must pick up and leave each morning. Some of the more interesting segments are about their assimilation into our country where they are pretty much dumped into empty apartments with absolutely no jobs, skills to buy food, ability to use a telephone or deal with things they have never seen before- elevators, skyscrapers, stores, taxis...even buying cars and not knowing they needed licenses. In spite of the more obvious advantages of living here, many long to return to their homeland even though it is still ravaged by war and genocide.

[Kuchy]

when we started a journey of thousand miles from Sudan to Ethiopia.A lot of children die of starvation and some were attacked by wild animals,leaving hundreds of them dead and also when they were taken to Kenya to be refugees in kakuma they were also loot and killed by turkana until some of them taken to united states for resettlement.

[Kristin]

I read this book after hearing Joan and Atem speak. Amazing Amazing Amazing!!