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Disturbed in Their Nests: A Journey from Sudan's Dinkaland to San Diego's City Heights
Nineteen-year-old refugee Alephonsion Deng, from war-ravaged Sudan, had great expectations when he arrived in America three weeks before two planes crashed into the World Trade Towers. Money, he'd been told, was given to you in pillows. Machines did all the work. Education was free. Suburban mom Judy Bernstein had her own assumptions. The teenaged "Lost Boys of Sudan"--who'd traveled barefoot and starving for a thousand miles--needed a little mothering and a change of a trip to the zoo, perhaps, or maybe the beach. Partnered through a mentoring program in San Diego, these two individuals from opposite sides of the world began an eye-opening journey that radically altered each other's vision and life. Disturbed in Their Nests recounts the first year of this heartwarming partnership; the initial misunderstandings, the growing trust, and, ultimately, their lasting friendship. Their contrasting points of view provide of-the-moment insight into what refugees face when torn from their own cultures and thrust into entirely foreign ones. Alepho struggles to understand the fast-paced, supersized way of life in America. He lands a job, but later is viciously beaten. Will he ever escape violence and hatred? Judy faces her own Alepho and his fellow refugees need jobs, education, housing, and health care. Why does she feel so compelled and how much support should she provide? The migrant crises in the Middle East, Central America, Europe, and Africa have put refugees in the headlines. Countless human tragedies are reduced to mere numbers. Personal stories such as Alepho's add a face to the news and lead to greater understanding of the strangers among us. Readers experience Alepho's discomfort, fears, and triumphs in a way that a newscast can't convey. This timely and inspiring personal account will make readers laugh, cry, and examine their own place in the world.
464 pages, Paperback
First published November 6, 2018
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2170 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
November 6, 2018
GNab Disturbed in Their Nests is a memoir written by Alephonsion Deng, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, and his mentor Judy A. Bernstein, covering the time Alepho, his brother Benson and cousin Leno arrived in San Diego as refugees with flashbacks to their lives in Sudan and the nine years they spent in Kenya's Refugee Camp Kakuma housing 100,000 people. Their resettlement in the United States finally happened in the summer of 2001. And talk about culture shock....
This is a must read for all Americans. We are again facing an immigration crisis in the US, and too many of us have forgotten the cost of our freedom - the assimilation of others downtrodden and homeless through no fault of their own. They must be welcomed just as most of us were at some point in history.
I received a free electronic copy of this memoir from Netgalley, Alephonsion Dent and Judy A. Bernstein and Blackstone Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
pub date Nov 6, 2018
Blackstone Publishing
This is a must read for all Americans. We are again facing an immigration crisis in the US, and too many of us have forgotten the cost of our freedom - the assimilation of others downtrodden and homeless through no fault of their own. They must be welcomed just as most of us were at some point in history.
I received a free electronic copy of this memoir from Netgalley, Alephonsion Dent and Judy A. Bernstein and Blackstone Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
pub date Nov 6, 2018
Blackstone Publishing
November 4, 2024
Great read. Reminded me a lot of the lessons my family and I learned trying to help Syrian refugees that were new to Canada. There is so much to overcome in their new countries it can seem overwhelming and impossible. My heart goes out to all refugees.
March 4, 2019
The two authors, one a former "Lost Boy" from Sudan and the other his mentor from San Diego, tell the story of several young men and their quest to begin a new life in the United States. While interesting, it was not particularly eye opening; Judy anticipated taking the 'boys' around town, exposing them to new things, from McDonald's to Disneyland while Alepho and his friends would be discovering how the real America compared to the fairy tales they'd been fed in Sudan. What Judy didn't anticipate (but I did, and I think most readers would) is that what these young men who spoke decent English really needed was schooling, a job, health care, and a safe apartment in which to live. They needed to learn nuances of the language ("I think you're hot" provoked fear in Alepho that he was smelly and sweaty and so he became quite depressed). And most of all that they were, for the most part, not willing to speak about their feelings, because that is not part of their Dinka culture. The book is written so that every two chapters describes an event or experience from Judy's point of view, and then from one of the boys' (usually Alepho's). Interesting to compare, but this was an accounting of what happened only the first month or so after their arrival. The only shocking thing is that Benjamin, a very handsome young man, was "discovered" by a Hollywood agent and put into "Master and Commander" with Russell Crowe. Alepho also got a part in the film, and so the book ends with a rather upbeat feeling for the reader that these two guys were able to earn enough money, gain confidence, and managed to fit in (as much as one can, given their childhood background) to US Society. So what about their roommates and others who came from the refugee camps? It is noted that another book "They Rained Fire On Us From The Sky" is one written by the boys Judy mentored. She herself is a writer and had a connection to a publisher, to whom she forwarded the stories they wrote and gave her during their first couple of months' stay. So all in all, this book didn't do a whole lot for me; it almost seems like a teaser for the other book, or a diary that Judy kept because she felt responsible for helping these people and not more than a little guilty for having so much that others do not. I also felt she got a schooling in white privilege and institutional racism, for sure.
November 22, 2018
Great read. I don't normally read nonfiction but this one caught my attention and held me rapt to the end. I fully expect this one to be made into a movie.
August 31, 2019
Amazing how these refugees viewed America and dealt with prejudice and over came against long odds. The tale of how they were treated in their own country and driven out is so common, and sade, in that region of Africa.
December 2, 2018
This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is one of the very few books I've had to put down multiple times to clear the tears out of my eyes. It is written by Alephonsion Deng, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, and an angel named Judy A. Bernstein. I don't know how to express how powerful this beautiful true story is, or how poignantly relevant it is in today's world. Alepho was a refugee that saw America as the only place he could run to, to truly live free. Reading this book will take you on a journey of many emotions: It's breathtaking, funny, heart-wrenching, infuriating, and ultimately inspiring.
Listen to this passage by Alepho from page 289:
-- A few years later, when I was at a community meeting, an elder spoke to us boys. “Why do you think we lost our homes and families? Why is your own government killing you? Why have you been stranded in a refugee camp for almost ten years? It is because you don’t have the magic. They look up at the sky and understand the stars. They go to the moon and come back.” He pointed down. “They even look under the ground and know what’s there. We are being killed for the oil under our feet, and you don’t even know it’s there. Americans know because they have received the magic of education.”
That man’s message went to my heart. The power was real, and I needed to get that power. --
Could there be a better message for every school kid in America today?
This book is a remarkable work of Art that went straight to my heart. I can not recommend it highly enough.
Listen to this passage by Alepho from page 289:
-- A few years later, when I was at a community meeting, an elder spoke to us boys. “Why do you think we lost our homes and families? Why is your own government killing you? Why have you been stranded in a refugee camp for almost ten years? It is because you don’t have the magic. They look up at the sky and understand the stars. They go to the moon and come back.” He pointed down. “They even look under the ground and know what’s there. We are being killed for the oil under our feet, and you don’t even know it’s there. Americans know because they have received the magic of education.”
That man’s message went to my heart. The power was real, and I needed to get that power. --
Could there be a better message for every school kid in America today?
This book is a remarkable work of Art that went straight to my heart. I can not recommend it highly enough.
September 16, 2022
This story made me so uncomfortable. I'm sure it pivots at some point but after reading over half I couldn't stomach her naive white minded perspective. His perspective was wonderful and interesting. I understand the contrast of perception and experience is the point of the story it just made me physically uncomfortable whenever it switched to her side ha. But generally, yes it is a wonderful story and incredibly powerful story. Read if you can be patient and open minded to observing pe4sonal and cultural growth, unlike me.
July 22, 2018
Tender, heartfelt, and full of honesty, this is a superb follow up to “They Poured Fire On Us From The Sky.” This new volume chronicles Alepho’s first year as an American refugee, and Judy’s first year as a Lost Boys mentor. Sharing the same stories from alternating perspectives creates compassion and curiosity, two elements currently lacking in America’s immigration narrative.
This was an ARC.
This was an ARC.
November 9, 2018
A wonderful follow-up to "They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: the True Story of the Lost Boys of the Sudan." A dual memoir from Alephonsion Deng and Judy Bernstein, of what has happened to the Lost Boys and Judy since their original publication. Engaging and educational in equal measure. A fascinating journey for both authors.
December 7, 2025
Like Judy, co-author of this book, learning more and more about the lost boys and girls of Sudan has continued to put things in perspective for myself. How lucky I am able to live the privileged life I have because I just so happened to be born in a certain place in the world at a certain time in history. There is still so much that needs to be done to help those in Sudan, but learning from their experiences and the differences their lives pose to those of others is an important first step. This also touches upon the huge change refugees have to go through when they get to another country vastly different from their native country. Kindness goes a long way and we never know anyone’s story, so just be kind and present.
May 13, 2024
Incredible, heartwarming, tragic and historically informative in a wonderful balance
June 5, 2022
received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
This is such a heartbreaking story of lose survival, redemption and the plight of the Sudan refuges it leaves you with a hole in your soul. Told in a 2 person perspective it alternates between the boy and the mom.
This is such a heartbreaking story of lose survival, redemption and the plight of the Sudan refuges it leaves you with a hole in your soul. Told in a 2 person perspective it alternates between the boy and the mom.
August 26, 2019
This was my first book from Goodreads that I won in a giveaway. It was signed by Judy Bernstein. I loved this book and couldn't put it down. I will have my 12 year old read it next and I hope he enjoys it as much as I did.
August 27, 2018
I read They Poured Fire On Us From The Sky back in 2012 (review is linked for anyone interested), and still remember how the stories of the brothers and their cousin affected me. The stories of the “Lost Boys” of Sudan still haunt me today, even more so now that I have my own children.
They Poured Fire on Us From The Sky was written by Alephonsion Deng, Benson Deng, and Benjamin Ajak, with their mentor Judy Bernstein’s help. In it each of the men recounts leaving their villages when they were still very young, fleeing from those attacking them, and the harrowing treks through Sudan to Ethiopia, back to Sudan, and finally to a refugee camp in Kenya where they remained for years before being granted refugee status in the US. Disturbed In Their Nests is written by Judy and Alepho and is a memoir of the first year of their life in the US. I love the composition of the memoir, as chapters alternate between the two voices, as if they were right back there in 2001. It allows us to see both Judy and Alepho’s perceptions of everything, which leads to some comical areas, but also to some very sad parts too, especially when a certain term we all use in the US is completely misunderstood by Alepho, which ends up causing him harm.
Benson and Benjamin’s voices are also often heard through Judy and Alepho’s narrative, as well as their other roommates James and Daniel’s experiences. Alepho also recounts some of his experiences as a young boy fleeing his home, as well as life in the refugee camp during his chapters. After finishing this book I honestly feel like I am on first name basis with all of them: their voices are so real, so heartwarming, but also so devastatingly raw. You cannot read this book without taking a serious look at your own life in order to find areas where you can really do better. These children, and now adults, survived despite the odds being stacked so hard against them, and I don’t think we can even begin to imagine what it took to continue living despite the conditions around them.
In my opinion this book, as well as many others, should be on high school curriculums. We need to understand the importance of refugee programs, and why we should be accepting people from all countries in conflict, not just picking and choosing based on country and religion. The number of resettled refugees in the US dropped by tens of thousands in 2017, and this country has more than enough space and resources to welcome many, many more people than that. No child should ever have to witness what Alepho, Benson, and Benjamin did, but there are so many children who are facing similar harrowing ordeals all over the world.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy!
You can find a list of other books to read if you are interested in learning more about Sudan on my blog here: http://www.jadeannahughes.com/book-re...
They Poured Fire on Us From The Sky was written by Alephonsion Deng, Benson Deng, and Benjamin Ajak, with their mentor Judy Bernstein’s help. In it each of the men recounts leaving their villages when they were still very young, fleeing from those attacking them, and the harrowing treks through Sudan to Ethiopia, back to Sudan, and finally to a refugee camp in Kenya where they remained for years before being granted refugee status in the US. Disturbed In Their Nests is written by Judy and Alepho and is a memoir of the first year of their life in the US. I love the composition of the memoir, as chapters alternate between the two voices, as if they were right back there in 2001. It allows us to see both Judy and Alepho’s perceptions of everything, which leads to some comical areas, but also to some very sad parts too, especially when a certain term we all use in the US is completely misunderstood by Alepho, which ends up causing him harm.
Benson and Benjamin’s voices are also often heard through Judy and Alepho’s narrative, as well as their other roommates James and Daniel’s experiences. Alepho also recounts some of his experiences as a young boy fleeing his home, as well as life in the refugee camp during his chapters. After finishing this book I honestly feel like I am on first name basis with all of them: their voices are so real, so heartwarming, but also so devastatingly raw. You cannot read this book without taking a serious look at your own life in order to find areas where you can really do better. These children, and now adults, survived despite the odds being stacked so hard against them, and I don’t think we can even begin to imagine what it took to continue living despite the conditions around them.
In my opinion this book, as well as many others, should be on high school curriculums. We need to understand the importance of refugee programs, and why we should be accepting people from all countries in conflict, not just picking and choosing based on country and religion. The number of resettled refugees in the US dropped by tens of thousands in 2017, and this country has more than enough space and resources to welcome many, many more people than that. No child should ever have to witness what Alepho, Benson, and Benjamin did, but there are so many children who are facing similar harrowing ordeals all over the world.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy!
You can find a list of other books to read if you are interested in learning more about Sudan on my blog here: http://www.jadeannahughes.com/book-re...
August 27, 2018
I read They Poured Fire On Us From The Sky back in 2012 (review is linked for anyone interested), and still remember how the stories of the brothers and their cousin affected me. The stories of the “Lost Boys” of Sudan still haunt me today, even more so now that I have my own children.
They Poured Fire on Us From The Sky was written by Alephonsion Deng, Benson Deng, and Benjamin Ajak, with their mentor Judy Bernstein’s help. In it each of the men recounts leaving their villages when they were still very young, fleeing from those attacking them, and the harrowing treks through Sudan to Ethiopia, back to Sudan, and finally to a refugee camp in Kenya where they remained for years before being granted refugee status in the US. Disturbed In Their Nests is written by Judy and Alepho and is a memoir of the first year of their life in the US. I love the composition of the memoir, as chapters alternate between the two voices, as if they were right back there in 2001. It allows us to see both Judy and Alepho’s perceptions of everything, which leads to some comical areas, but also to some very sad parts too, especially when a certain term we all use in the US is completely misunderstood by Alepho, which ends up causing him harm.
Benson and Benjamin’s voices are also often heard through Judy and Alepho’s narrative, as well as their other roommates James and Daniel’s experiences. Alepho also recounts some of his experiences as a young boy fleeing his home, as well as life in the refugee camp during his chapters. After finishing this book I honestly feel like I am on first name basis with all of them: their voices are so real, so heartwarming, but also so devastatingly raw. You cannot read this book without taking a serious look at your own life in order to find areas where you can really do better. These children, and now adults, survived despite the odds being stacked so hard against them, and I don’t think we can even begin to imagine what it took to continue living despite the conditions around them.
In my opinion this book, as well as many others, should be on high school curriculums. We need to understand the importance of refugee programs, and why we should be accepting people from all countries in conflict, not just picking and choosing based on country and religion. The number of resettled refugees in the US dropped by tens of thousands in 2017, and this country has more than enough space and resources to welcome many, many more people than that. No child should ever have to witness what Alepho, Benson, and Benjamin did, but there are so many children who are facing similar harrowing ordeals all over the world.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy!
For those interested in reading more about the Lost Boys and Sudan in general I have added a list of books to my review on my blog here: http://www.jadeannahughes.com/book-re...
They Poured Fire on Us From The Sky was written by Alephonsion Deng, Benson Deng, and Benjamin Ajak, with their mentor Judy Bernstein’s help. In it each of the men recounts leaving their villages when they were still very young, fleeing from those attacking them, and the harrowing treks through Sudan to Ethiopia, back to Sudan, and finally to a refugee camp in Kenya where they remained for years before being granted refugee status in the US. Disturbed In Their Nests is written by Judy and Alepho and is a memoir of the first year of their life in the US. I love the composition of the memoir, as chapters alternate between the two voices, as if they were right back there in 2001. It allows us to see both Judy and Alepho’s perceptions of everything, which leads to some comical areas, but also to some very sad parts too, especially when a certain term we all use in the US is completely misunderstood by Alepho, which ends up causing him harm.
Benson and Benjamin’s voices are also often heard through Judy and Alepho’s narrative, as well as their other roommates James and Daniel’s experiences. Alepho also recounts some of his experiences as a young boy fleeing his home, as well as life in the refugee camp during his chapters. After finishing this book I honestly feel like I am on first name basis with all of them: their voices are so real, so heartwarming, but also so devastatingly raw. You cannot read this book without taking a serious look at your own life in order to find areas where you can really do better. These children, and now adults, survived despite the odds being stacked so hard against them, and I don’t think we can even begin to imagine what it took to continue living despite the conditions around them.
In my opinion this book, as well as many others, should be on high school curriculums. We need to understand the importance of refugee programs, and why we should be accepting people from all countries in conflict, not just picking and choosing based on country and religion. The number of resettled refugees in the US dropped by tens of thousands in 2017, and this country has more than enough space and resources to welcome many, many more people than that. No child should ever have to witness what Alepho, Benson, and Benjamin did, but there are so many children who are facing similar harrowing ordeals all over the world.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy!
For those interested in reading more about the Lost Boys and Sudan in general I have added a list of books to my review on my blog here: http://www.jadeannahughes.com/book-re...
January 1, 2019
I loved this book. Reading it I felt like I was right there with the the characters in the book. Reading the book made me curious about the whole situation in Sudan today, and about what the authors are doing now in their lives
November 22, 2018
Just like the previous book, this book is wonderful. While the other book is about their journey in Sudan, this book is about their lives in America.
I enjoyed reading how they ajusted to a new culture and had a laugh reading about the misunderstandings of the language and customs. Dor instance, a girl told Alepho that he was hot and he thought that meant he smelled.
Really a wonderful read.
I enjoyed reading how they ajusted to a new culture and had a laugh reading about the misunderstandings of the language and customs. Dor instance, a girl told Alepho that he was hot and he thought that meant he smelled.
Really a wonderful read.
December 26, 2022
A special story that helped me rediscover what it means to be American. Seeing Alephonsion's cultural struggles to adapt to American culture without sacrificing his identity or pride was a beautiful thing.
September 19, 2022
Why is it that children who knows nothing about oil, race, or religion die of what they can't even define? A tearful and inspiring memoir.
"Why was our government hunting and killing families - women and children who had done nothing but live? Why were they shooting at me? I'd had many desperate days, but this was the most unforgettable. An excerpt from page 145.
Disturbed in Their Nests is a powerful story that held me captive until I finished indulging my relatable emotions in it. It is a dreadful, humorous, uplifting, and transformational story of survival, quest, and destiny. At some point, I was left agape trying to figure out how some scene unfolds, how realistic the journey was, and the obstacles encountered.
This book detailed the life of the Author Alephension Deng escaping the horrible Sudan war, and his eventual journey to San Diego, told alongside himself and the co-author, Judy A. Bernstein. I was first introduced to the bitter experience of Alepho and his brothers in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, reading this part brought me to tears as I couldn't imagine the level of trauma they'd gone through, how they coped with starvation, trekked a thousand mile in the African wilderness, how some of them were killed by Lion and Crocodile, how they ate mud and drank urine in the absence of water. I paused in my contemplation while reading this part, it had me resonating on the effect of war, and its inhumane consequences on innocent victims.
This, however, was followed by the hope of relocating to America through the International Rescue Committee. I sensed hope, rejection, expectations, and earnest desires among the boys. Alepho was keen enough to paint imagery of what life in the camp looks like through his raw-arresting transcendent writing. Here, I could sense a traumatized lad on the verge of hopelessness and freedom, with an undying passion to attain higher education. It eventually dawned, his name and that of his brother were among those who would be traveling to America. They were lucky, but that was the beginning of another journey entirely.
Life in America seems not to be the same as they were told back in the camp, "Wasn't food, water, house, money, and education supposed to be free?" These innocent boys were desperate to make a life on their own, get an education and support their families, and other people trapped in the middle of the war back home. Then, come Judy, I love to think of Judy as a destiny helper, a compassionate individual, one with an exceptional traits, selfless, resilient, and committed. She played a significant role in the lives of the boys, her unwavering concern for the lost boys was so palpable, that I come to think of what the journey would have been for the boys if they'd met another mentor in place of Judy, would they still have been able to get to where they were? Would the journey have been different, or was Judy divinely ordained to guard their journey in America? I, myself who had suffered countless quests to attain a university education, wanted someone like Judy, in my life.
One might propose that the image of Africa wasn't well painted in this book, especially from Alepho's description and point of view, but it is apparent that within each line, Alepho was telling his own story, and experience of civilization, moving from Dinka in Sudan to San Diego in America. However, I love his fierce illustration of war, which is something that is not only particular in Sudan alone, but also in other African countries that had had an experience of a brutal war. Part of his story reminded me of the Biafra war and the millions of children who died in its course. Reading through the lamentation of the war victims made me imagine the trauma and the lives that had been lost to war as a result of bad governance in Africa. The death of those innocent souls reminded me of the thousands of Nigerians who had died even in the course of the Boko Haram Insurgency.
I love to think as a philosopher, and as such, this book brought me to swim in the ocean of emotions and unending introspection. I asked myself, "What if Alepho hadn't survived it?" Certainly, it's my utmost joy that he survived, but how about those who died in the course of the war? The children whose lives and destinies were truncated with bullets and bombs, the poor ones whose lives were shortened by wild animals, and "war-invoked" diseases. I felt like writing an elegy to mourn the soul of the departed, but would my lyrics bring back the dead? I rest my case and murmured, "Why is it that children who knows nothing about oil, race, or religion die of what they can't even define?" This shows how important we need to preserve our land against war, it calls for the drastic realization of the effect of war, and how it ought to be avoided.
Disturbed in Their Nests can be considered as a resource for the preservation of Sudan's history, it reminded me of Chinua Achebe's account of the Biafra war, There Was A Country. I love the transition from both authors' perspectives, the switch of the storytelling techniques, with wonderful characters like Cliff, Joseph, Paul, Benson, Lino, Daniel, James, Benjamin, and many more. These characters are amazing, and their scenarios made me paint image in my head that the book reads as if I was watching a movie. With a blend of sorrowful event, humor, challenges, and glory. The chapters are so emotional, and I could derived lots of morals and values from it, especially from Judy's perception, but I will restrict from revealing further in an attempt to keep this review spoiler free, but I'd love to say that this book owns my sincere praise, it is so engrossing, captivating and astounding. I recommend this book to lovers of nonfiction and literature at large.
"Why was our government hunting and killing families - women and children who had done nothing but live? Why were they shooting at me? I'd had many desperate days, but this was the most unforgettable. An excerpt from page 145.
Disturbed in Their Nests is a powerful story that held me captive until I finished indulging my relatable emotions in it. It is a dreadful, humorous, uplifting, and transformational story of survival, quest, and destiny. At some point, I was left agape trying to figure out how some scene unfolds, how realistic the journey was, and the obstacles encountered.
This book detailed the life of the Author Alephension Deng escaping the horrible Sudan war, and his eventual journey to San Diego, told alongside himself and the co-author, Judy A. Bernstein. I was first introduced to the bitter experience of Alepho and his brothers in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, reading this part brought me to tears as I couldn't imagine the level of trauma they'd gone through, how they coped with starvation, trekked a thousand mile in the African wilderness, how some of them were killed by Lion and Crocodile, how they ate mud and drank urine in the absence of water. I paused in my contemplation while reading this part, it had me resonating on the effect of war, and its inhumane consequences on innocent victims.
This, however, was followed by the hope of relocating to America through the International Rescue Committee. I sensed hope, rejection, expectations, and earnest desires among the boys. Alepho was keen enough to paint imagery of what life in the camp looks like through his raw-arresting transcendent writing. Here, I could sense a traumatized lad on the verge of hopelessness and freedom, with an undying passion to attain higher education. It eventually dawned, his name and that of his brother were among those who would be traveling to America. They were lucky, but that was the beginning of another journey entirely.
Life in America seems not to be the same as they were told back in the camp, "Wasn't food, water, house, money, and education supposed to be free?" These innocent boys were desperate to make a life on their own, get an education and support their families, and other people trapped in the middle of the war back home. Then, come Judy, I love to think of Judy as a destiny helper, a compassionate individual, one with an exceptional traits, selfless, resilient, and committed. She played a significant role in the lives of the boys, her unwavering concern for the lost boys was so palpable, that I come to think of what the journey would have been for the boys if they'd met another mentor in place of Judy, would they still have been able to get to where they were? Would the journey have been different, or was Judy divinely ordained to guard their journey in America? I, myself who had suffered countless quests to attain a university education, wanted someone like Judy, in my life.
One might propose that the image of Africa wasn't well painted in this book, especially from Alepho's description and point of view, but it is apparent that within each line, Alepho was telling his own story, and experience of civilization, moving from Dinka in Sudan to San Diego in America. However, I love his fierce illustration of war, which is something that is not only particular in Sudan alone, but also in other African countries that had had an experience of a brutal war. Part of his story reminded me of the Biafra war and the millions of children who died in its course. Reading through the lamentation of the war victims made me imagine the trauma and the lives that had been lost to war as a result of bad governance in Africa. The death of those innocent souls reminded me of the thousands of Nigerians who had died even in the course of the Boko Haram Insurgency.
I love to think as a philosopher, and as such, this book brought me to swim in the ocean of emotions and unending introspection. I asked myself, "What if Alepho hadn't survived it?" Certainly, it's my utmost joy that he survived, but how about those who died in the course of the war? The children whose lives and destinies were truncated with bullets and bombs, the poor ones whose lives were shortened by wild animals, and "war-invoked" diseases. I felt like writing an elegy to mourn the soul of the departed, but would my lyrics bring back the dead? I rest my case and murmured, "Why is it that children who knows nothing about oil, race, or religion die of what they can't even define?" This shows how important we need to preserve our land against war, it calls for the drastic realization of the effect of war, and how it ought to be avoided.
Disturbed in Their Nests can be considered as a resource for the preservation of Sudan's history, it reminded me of Chinua Achebe's account of the Biafra war, There Was A Country. I love the transition from both authors' perspectives, the switch of the storytelling techniques, with wonderful characters like Cliff, Joseph, Paul, Benson, Lino, Daniel, James, Benjamin, and many more. These characters are amazing, and their scenarios made me paint image in my head that the book reads as if I was watching a movie. With a blend of sorrowful event, humor, challenges, and glory. The chapters are so emotional, and I could derived lots of morals and values from it, especially from Judy's perception, but I will restrict from revealing further in an attempt to keep this review spoiler free, but I'd love to say that this book owns my sincere praise, it is so engrossing, captivating and astounding. I recommend this book to lovers of nonfiction and literature at large.
May 18, 2022
A story of a refugee alepho landing in San Diego with his brothers, the “lost boys” from the war in Sudan and their resettlement in America. A poignant story told through the eyes and experiences of both Alepho and his “white suburban mom” mentor / sponsor, Judy.
I could not gel with this book at all, and at times actually found myself becoming irritated primarily because of Judy and her utter naïveté in understanding the needs of 4 20yr olds who had suffered extreme trauma and had landed in a world completely alien to the one they had known. Taking them to Mac Donald’s and Disneyland when their basic needs for security were unmet, when they had no idea how to operate in their new world - from making spaghetti to using the internet. My heart broke for Alepho and his struggles to fit in and the utter ineptitude of a society to try to understand. This book is even more poignant now given the global humanitarian refugee crisis that is unfolding across Africa and Eastern Europe. There is a lesson to be learned here, of what not to do, and while I applaud Judy for taking on something she was utterly incapable of doing at that time, I hope this experience has built her understanding and awareness of the basic fundamental needs of refugees who are torn from their land and people.
The book ended abruptly with no clear resolution or proposed approach for the hundreds and thousands that follow in their footsteps. May the world be a kinder place to Alepho and his brethren and may we as a society continue to embrace and learn the basic fundamentals of human compassion.
I could not gel with this book at all, and at times actually found myself becoming irritated primarily because of Judy and her utter naïveté in understanding the needs of 4 20yr olds who had suffered extreme trauma and had landed in a world completely alien to the one they had known. Taking them to Mac Donald’s and Disneyland when their basic needs for security were unmet, when they had no idea how to operate in their new world - from making spaghetti to using the internet. My heart broke for Alepho and his struggles to fit in and the utter ineptitude of a society to try to understand. This book is even more poignant now given the global humanitarian refugee crisis that is unfolding across Africa and Eastern Europe. There is a lesson to be learned here, of what not to do, and while I applaud Judy for taking on something she was utterly incapable of doing at that time, I hope this experience has built her understanding and awareness of the basic fundamental needs of refugees who are torn from their land and people.
The book ended abruptly with no clear resolution or proposed approach for the hundreds and thousands that follow in their footsteps. May the world be a kinder place to Alepho and his brethren and may we as a society continue to embrace and learn the basic fundamentals of human compassion.
September 13, 2025
DITN is a diary-style memoir about Alephonsion (Alepho) & his first year as an American refugee with his brother Benson & two cousins, Lino & Benjamin. Each "entry" has a split POV between Alepho & his mentor/sponsor & co-author, Judy.
I had this book in my collection for some time (long enough to not remember where I got it from). In a recent purge of my collection, I decided to put all of my unread books into a wheel spinner app & fate decided this was going to be my first in a long list of TBR. I am so glad it was.
After coming to America, to practice their English, The Boys would write about themselves & give these to Judy to read & check. She says this: "I'd read their stories over and over. What they'd survived and achieved was extraordinary, and as a writer, I appreciated their fresh metaphors and lush lyrical voices that evoked a world so totally foreign to mine. They made me smile and cry and inspired me. I sensed they'd do that for others."
This rings so true for me, Alepho's flashbacks to his time as a child in Sudan was so eye-opening & written in the type of way that makes it feel like a movie in my head. "We, little boys, spewed out of the blazing village like a colony of ants disturbed in their nests." That was the moment where I was hooked. The moment where I, for a moment had forgotten that this was someone's life. But in the second following, i had to sit in the uncomfortable feeling of knowing this was, in fact, someone's life. This happened to a boy & all he could do was run.
I had this book in my collection for some time (long enough to not remember where I got it from). In a recent purge of my collection, I decided to put all of my unread books into a wheel spinner app & fate decided this was going to be my first in a long list of TBR. I am so glad it was.
After coming to America, to practice their English, The Boys would write about themselves & give these to Judy to read & check. She says this: "I'd read their stories over and over. What they'd survived and achieved was extraordinary, and as a writer, I appreciated their fresh metaphors and lush lyrical voices that evoked a world so totally foreign to mine. They made me smile and cry and inspired me. I sensed they'd do that for others."
This rings so true for me, Alepho's flashbacks to his time as a child in Sudan was so eye-opening & written in the type of way that makes it feel like a movie in my head. "We, little boys, spewed out of the blazing village like a colony of ants disturbed in their nests." That was the moment where I was hooked. The moment where I, for a moment had forgotten that this was someone's life. But in the second following, i had to sit in the uncomfortable feeling of knowing this was, in fact, someone's life. This happened to a boy & all he could do was run.
February 19, 2025
An excellent read! I walked Sudan, San Diego and Rosarito (Mexico). I saw through the eyes of a war torn depressed young man, the difficulties of adjusting to a new system.
The resilience, the interdependence of asylum seekers, and the semi-close reality of 9/11, the fragile state of man. I clearly experienced the meaning of PTSD, considering that I had read the sequel (They poured fire on us from the sky).
It further taught me resilience, a need to embrace the challenges that come my way, and that eventually, would snap out of it.
Experiencing the emotional play, knowing what is right, but not knowing when is right. Judy's need to be the mother figure...
It is a whole lot of words...
But thank you for writing this book, dear Judy and Alepho. Thank you! Thank you to Cliff and Paul!
The resilience, the interdependence of asylum seekers, and the semi-close reality of 9/11, the fragile state of man. I clearly experienced the meaning of PTSD, considering that I had read the sequel (They poured fire on us from the sky).
It further taught me resilience, a need to embrace the challenges that come my way, and that eventually, would snap out of it.
Experiencing the emotional play, knowing what is right, but not knowing when is right. Judy's need to be the mother figure...
It is a whole lot of words...
But thank you for writing this book, dear Judy and Alepho. Thank you! Thank you to Cliff and Paul!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2019
This is the sequel to They Poured Fire on us From the Sky. This book traces the Lost Boys as they adjust to their lives in San Diego with flashbacks to Sudan. At times the book is hard to read, when seeing what the boys had to go through, but the importance of the book is how the boys adjusted to the United States. Judy and the boys chronicle what confuses them, what gives them pause and what scares them out of their wits. It is a wonderful look at our culture and how confusing it can be. It is a look at what immigrants go through today in this country with PTSD and parasites thrown in for good measure. I have met these boys. They are kind, resourceful, and still hurting in many ways. The book is worth looking into , reading, and thinking about. Be kind to all you meet!
December 4, 2024
This book is a history in two parts: Alephonsion, one of the thousands of Sudanese lost boys who made his way to America as a refugee; and Judy, his American sponsor. Deng’s narration is moving, eye opening and compellingly told. Had this been the entire novel I would have loved it.
But Judy’s narration was deeply uncomfortable. She admits to knowing little of the young men’s troubles or backgrounds. Her privilege is clear. She continues to repeat how she wants to help, but also she wants to write a novel. And the intersection of this felt at best, very white savior complex and at worst, exploitative.
Her afterword feels much more human and real but I almost gave up several times on this one.
But Judy’s narration was deeply uncomfortable. She admits to knowing little of the young men’s troubles or backgrounds. Her privilege is clear. She continues to repeat how she wants to help, but also she wants to write a novel. And the intersection of this felt at best, very white savior complex and at worst, exploitative.
Her afterword feels much more human and real but I almost gave up several times on this one.
July 1, 2024
What a lovely book, I love the way Judy shares her perspective and how Alephonsion is able to bring us deep into his feelings after going through such a hard experience. As an immigrants I can correlate with the challenges and disappointments you face when arriving at a place that you've dreamt and fought to be... but, being a war refugee on top of that, such a hard displacement and loneliness having lost your family at such a young age... that's a whole other level difficult to fathom. This book is enlightening, as it was the first one.
I've loved it, and developed a great admiration for both authors by reading it.
I've loved it, and developed a great admiration for both authors by reading it.
February 27, 2019
This book is definitely getting added to my "Life-changing" bookshelf in Goodreads. The story is about 3 refugees from Sudan, a part of the larger "Lost Boys of Sudan", and a "typical soccer mom" who decides to be their mentor. One of these Lost Boys, Alepho Deng, co-authors this book with Judy Bernstein and they have contrasting voices and perspectives through the first year of the young men coming to America and all the uncertainty, confusion, loneliness and eventual better understanding this entails. The story starts in Fall 2001. I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE.
April 12, 2019
This is a fascinating book about a subject I know very little, that of “the lost boys” of Sudan. I did not enjoy the writing, but the experiences of Alepho, Benson, Benjamin and Lino once they arrived in the US from a refugee camp in Kenya were so compelling that it carried the book. I appreciated Judy’s narration for its self awareness. It is very easy to think you have all the answers. Much harder to recognize your comfortable experience as a white woman of means makes you are insulated to much of what minorities experience.
May 6, 2019
I really enjoyed the alternating perspectives of Judy (the Lost Boys' American mentor) and Alepho (one of the Lost Boys). Hearing two different versions of the same stories got a bit repetitive at times, but it was also entertaining and eye-opening to see how to people can experience the same thing in such different ways. I felt like this book gave good background knowledge into what was going on in Sudan and the adjustment to life in post-9/11 America. My only complaint is that the book seemed to end abruptly with the boys still struggling to adjust to American life.
May 11, 2024
I loved the book overall! Still I found the first to be more exciting. I loved watching how my everyday life and so many other Americans get to see the perspective of someone of a completely different culture and we get background knowledge of our new perspectives from the first book. Perhaps I was more interested in the others perspectives more so than Judy’s but she does above and beyond for these men so in a way it feels very justified in seeing her inner workings. Overall excellent read to those wanting to expand their cultural knowledge.
June 25, 2024
Fantastic Book
I’d heard about the Lost Boys of Sudan, and I read a book about them many years ago. Disturbed in Their Nest gave me more incite into a group of brave people who I have never met, but for whom I have the deepest respect. They led a sad, horrific life, solely because they were born in Sudan. The dangers and challenges they faced have not been faced by most, if any, Americans. It makes you appreciate where you were lucky enough to have been born. This was a wonderful book.
I’d heard about the Lost Boys of Sudan, and I read a book about them many years ago. Disturbed in Their Nest gave me more incite into a group of brave people who I have never met, but for whom I have the deepest respect. They led a sad, horrific life, solely because they were born in Sudan. The dangers and challenges they faced have not been faced by most, if any, Americans. It makes you appreciate where you were lucky enough to have been born. This was a wonderful book.
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