Maison Rouge

by Leolina Leila Juma

Leila Liliane Juma was sixteen years old when her family home in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was destroyed by rebel soldiers. In this gut-wrenching memoir, she gives an account of her life before and after her family was torn apart by the twin nightmares of civil war and invasion. Sincere and revealing, it gives a moving account of a young girl's journey from a protected and secure family life through a series of brutal conflicts that saw her father murdered and her former life utterly destroyed. Maison Rouge is a story of war and unspeakable loss. It is also the story of survival. Eventually, through the United Nations refugee program, Leila and her family were finally able to relocate to Canada.

Genres: Memoir, Africa

118 pages, Paperback

Published June 20, 2020

Reviews

[selin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was deeply affecting.

[Holly L'Heureux · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting bio. I have not learned much about the issues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and reading this opened my eyes to a lot of things. Refugees are treated as second class citizens around the world, which is absolutely wrong. Reading their stories of what they have went through shows that they are complex humans that have experienced the most terrifying events of your life. It is with refugees that we need to remember "The Golden Rule" and treat them better than before.

[HadiDee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very slim book, with each chapter only a few pages long, just a scene. The early chapters seem random but then a narrative emerges, violence, displacement and a trek to a refugee camp. The language is simple, almost simplistic. The book can be read in less than an hour, but the scenes stayed with me. The epilogue broke my heart - the family is safe I Canada and they are grateful, but life is hard and lonely.

[Mr Giba dsd · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story touched my heart and my soul, I liked the way God save and protect this family in all those struggles they went through, I liked the way they got each other’s back no matter what they went through, this teach us a good lesson to love and support each other no matter we’re going through, this is the best book ever, I love it💖💖💖💖

[Dr Sansdocuments · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read the book for my 14th times then I choose to take a break and come to drop my my review here : I wish all the people of this world would read this book as it has a good story that touch hearts, It’s an amazing book and beautiful story, Keep it up Leolina Leila Juma ✨

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating story of a family who had to leave their home in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to go to Zambia, due to the Rwandan conflict. It is very human.

[Prince Juma · Rating 5 out of 5]

very wonderful book, I like it. This book changed my life and increased my belief 🕌

[Nadra Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can be a good film, it has a beautiful story, Keep it up Leila Juma

[Robert Cent · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a very nice book, I enjoyed it