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Songs of a War Boy: The bestselling biography of Deng Adut - a child soldier, refugee and man of hope
Deng Adut was six years old when war came to his village in South Sudan. Taken from his mother, he was conscripted into the Sudan People's Liberation Army. He was taught to use an AK-47 then sent into battle. Shot in the back, dealing with illness and the relentless brutality of war, Deng's future was bleak. A child soldier must kill or be killed. But, after five years, he was rescued by his brother John and smuggled into a Kenyan refugee camp. With the support of the UN and help from an Australian couple, Deng and John became the third Sudanese family resettled in Australia. Despite physical injuries and ongoing mental trauma, Deng seized the chance he'd been given. Deng taught himself to read and, in 2005, he enrolled in a Bachelor of Laws at Western Sydney University. Songs of a War Boy is the inspirational story of a young man who has overcome unthinkable adversity to become a lawyer, refugee advocate and NSW Australian of the Year. Deng's memoir is an important reminder of the power of compassion and the benefit to us all when we open our doors and our hearts to those fleeing war, persecution and pain.
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 25, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
June 8, 2017
I loved the voice in this book. I loved the fact it was straight forward. I loved that it gave an insight into details about what this man witnessed and lived through as a child. The fact that he is still alive is a miracle, if you believe in this kind of stuff.
It IS a VERY GOOD read.
The last part of the story contains is a journey into philosophy. I loved it, probably because I can relate to many parts of what Deng says and he says it well. There are parts that contain great wisdom and emotion and is really a must-read. Whether or not a person who has never been deprived, smelt death or the closeness of death - or felt the sting of dis-assimilation will ever understand them. They are worth reading - and knowing about.
It IS a VERY GOOD read.
The last part of the story contains is a journey into philosophy. I loved it, probably because I can relate to many parts of what Deng says and he says it well. There are parts that contain great wisdom and emotion and is really a must-read. Whether or not a person who has never been deprived, smelt death or the closeness of death - or felt the sting of dis-assimilation will ever understand them. They are worth reading - and knowing about.
November 11, 2016
Poignant, sad and yet inspirational reading and life.
My View:
An incredible poignant and inspirational story – how this boy soldier survived and then went on to do great things (**more on this later) is nothing short of amazing and inspiring.
This narrative begins by stating the importance of Songs to the Dinka people; “They’re our avatars, and our biographies. They precede us, introduce us and live on after we die. They are also how our deeds escape our villages, and they pass on our code of morality, culture and law.
When I was a boy I dreamed of having my own songs, but now I am a man, I have no songs. It’s likely I never will, in the traditional sense. For the Dinka, these songs are only for men. In the eyes of my culture, I am still a boy.
When I should have been going through the rituals of manhood, I was caught in a vicious war. By the time I was returned to my people I was very much a westerner.” (Prologue – Deng Adut)
And so begins the poignant and remarkable story of a childhood interrupted by adults’ politics and greed. Somehow this child soldier survived. Read this story and you will be amazed how anyone, let alone a child could endure such trauma – and endure Deng Adut has – Deng Adut’s adult life is testimony to how one man can make a difference (his brother John Mac in the first instance) and many other’s later in his life’s journey. This is Deng Adut’s story but it is many peoples story – listen and feel.
This personal narrative has much to offer; hope, inspiration, an honest cultural exchange…proof that education changes lives.
What I find remarkable about this man can be summed up in his own words; “I know I am whole, though. Yes, I have had a difficult life. I’m proud pf some things I have done, and ashamed of others, but I own all of it, and I’ve reconciled with all of it. That’s why I am whole.”
(Deng Adut -Prologue)
Wise and humble, inspiring and honest, this life, this book asks just one thing of you – open your heart and see the world with compassion.
An outstanding read! An inspiration to all.
**DENG ADUT – 2017 NSW AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
"At an awards ceremony last night (Monday 7th November 2016) Deng Adut, Sudanese child soldier, refugee, man of hope, was announced as the 2017 NSW Australian of the Year. Deng’s incredible story is told in his book with Ben Mckelvey, Songs of a War Boy, which was released last week and is already captivating readers across Australia.
Deng’s is an inspiring story of a man who has overcome deadly adversity to become a lawyer and committed worker for the disenfranchised, helping refugees in Western Sydney, where he now has his own law practice with legal partner Joe Correy, the AC Law Group. His story is an important reminder of the power of compassion and the benefit to us all when we open our doors and our hearts to those fleeing war, persecution and trauma." Media Release Hachette Australia.
My View:
An incredible poignant and inspirational story – how this boy soldier survived and then went on to do great things (**more on this later) is nothing short of amazing and inspiring.
This narrative begins by stating the importance of Songs to the Dinka people; “They’re our avatars, and our biographies. They precede us, introduce us and live on after we die. They are also how our deeds escape our villages, and they pass on our code of morality, culture and law.
When I was a boy I dreamed of having my own songs, but now I am a man, I have no songs. It’s likely I never will, in the traditional sense. For the Dinka, these songs are only for men. In the eyes of my culture, I am still a boy.
When I should have been going through the rituals of manhood, I was caught in a vicious war. By the time I was returned to my people I was very much a westerner.” (Prologue – Deng Adut)
And so begins the poignant and remarkable story of a childhood interrupted by adults’ politics and greed. Somehow this child soldier survived. Read this story and you will be amazed how anyone, let alone a child could endure such trauma – and endure Deng Adut has – Deng Adut’s adult life is testimony to how one man can make a difference (his brother John Mac in the first instance) and many other’s later in his life’s journey. This is Deng Adut’s story but it is many peoples story – listen and feel.
This personal narrative has much to offer; hope, inspiration, an honest cultural exchange…proof that education changes lives.
What I find remarkable about this man can be summed up in his own words; “I know I am whole, though. Yes, I have had a difficult life. I’m proud pf some things I have done, and ashamed of others, but I own all of it, and I’ve reconciled with all of it. That’s why I am whole.”
(Deng Adut -Prologue)
Wise and humble, inspiring and honest, this life, this book asks just one thing of you – open your heart and see the world with compassion.
An outstanding read! An inspiration to all.
**DENG ADUT – 2017 NSW AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
"At an awards ceremony last night (Monday 7th November 2016) Deng Adut, Sudanese child soldier, refugee, man of hope, was announced as the 2017 NSW Australian of the Year. Deng’s incredible story is told in his book with Ben Mckelvey, Songs of a War Boy, which was released last week and is already captivating readers across Australia.
Deng’s is an inspiring story of a man who has overcome deadly adversity to become a lawyer and committed worker for the disenfranchised, helping refugees in Western Sydney, where he now has his own law practice with legal partner Joe Correy, the AC Law Group. His story is an important reminder of the power of compassion and the benefit to us all when we open our doors and our hearts to those fleeing war, persecution and trauma." Media Release Hachette Australia.
November 17, 2016
The book is extremely confronting. At times, I wondered whether I could continue reading; it was so raw and honest. It is, however, a "must read". It gives insight into issues surrounding war-torn Sudan and its people and is an eye opener into the challenges faced by migrants to Australia.
December 22, 2019
Such an eye-opening book! Of course, I knew about the boy soldiers of Sudan and the war crimes perpetrated upon them and by them, but Deng Adut's memoir is so visceral and personal that it brought tears to my eyes. He introduces the reader to his life as a child of the Dinka-Bor people of South Sudan, as they raised their cattle in a village on the banks of the Nile. Then war comes to his village and soon he is conscripted into the liberation army and marched hundreds of kilometres from his home with little food, no medicine and no shoes. He was seven.
.
What follows is a tale of kill or be killed, where most of his fellow child soldiers fall by the wayside, through sickness, malnutrition or unthinkable violence. Deng somehow manages to survive, and with the help of his older brother, makes his way to Australia and eventually becomes a lawyer. His story is evocative of time and place, brutally so in many instances. It is also totally inspiring, a story everyone could benefit from reading.
.
What follows is a tale of kill or be killed, where most of his fellow child soldiers fall by the wayside, through sickness, malnutrition or unthinkable violence. Deng somehow manages to survive, and with the help of his older brother, makes his way to Australia and eventually becomes a lawyer. His story is evocative of time and place, brutally so in many instances. It is also totally inspiring, a story everyone could benefit from reading.
August 8, 2021
Trigger warnings: war, violence, gun violence, child soldiers, animal death, serious physical injury, explosions, death of a child.
3.5 stars.
I've been intrigued by this book for a while now and given that I'm behind on reading books set in countries that aren't the US or the UK for one of my reading challenges this year, it seemed like as good a time to pick it up as any.
I'm curious now what the differences are between the adult version and the YA version because this felt like it focused on the author's early years before conscription and then on his move to Australia as a teen and almost...glossed over??...his experiences as a child soldier at times. Don't get me wrong, it was still confronting and eye opening. But I also felt like I knew more about his family relationships than I did anything else.
I loved the discussion in the prologue of the book about the significance of songs to the Dinka people and I was kind of hoping that theme would flow through the book as a whole. But unfortunately not so much...
Ultimately, this was an informative and occasionally confronting read. And yet I found myself wanting more from it than I got. Sigh.
3.5 stars.
I've been intrigued by this book for a while now and given that I'm behind on reading books set in countries that aren't the US or the UK for one of my reading challenges this year, it seemed like as good a time to pick it up as any.
I'm curious now what the differences are between the adult version and the YA version because this felt like it focused on the author's early years before conscription and then on his move to Australia as a teen and almost...glossed over??...his experiences as a child soldier at times. Don't get me wrong, it was still confronting and eye opening. But I also felt like I knew more about his family relationships than I did anything else.
I loved the discussion in the prologue of the book about the significance of songs to the Dinka people and I was kind of hoping that theme would flow through the book as a whole. But unfortunately not so much...
Ultimately, this was an informative and occasionally confronting read. And yet I found myself wanting more from it than I got. Sigh.
June 25, 2022
Like many of my compatriots I expect, I first learned of Deng Adut's journey from South Sudanese child soldier to Australian lawyer via the promotional video for Western Sydney University that went viral some years ago (https://youtu.be/buA3tsGnp2s). But that brief glimpse into his life really did little to prepare me for the rollercoaster of this memoir. It was everything; horrifying, uplifting, sad, funny and ultimately very humbling. It was also a great reminder that every refugee has a story.
October 31, 2016
Spell bound by the strength of the human spirit in this book. I could not put the book down. Education equals power.
December 4, 2016
I started this book only a few days ago and read it every chance I got. I want to shake the author by the hand, I want to embrace him, and I want him to know that he connected with me.
Songs of a War Boy taught me about the Sudanese Civil War and the factions involved better than the many texts I have read on the subject. It chilled and warmed me. It made me wonder how such monsters exist in human form and how indomitable spirits find the courage to rise against them.
Having read and loved Majok Tulba's Beneath a Darkening Sky, I found myself comparing the two books. They could almost be companion volumes. Tulba's work was all passion and emotion. Songs of War Boy is told with uncommon powers of observation, and sometimes detachment. The author communicates his pain and despair with detail. For example, even as an adult he has no toenails - all lost on his childhood trek to the training camp.
I loved this book, and every Australian should read it.
Songs of a War Boy taught me about the Sudanese Civil War and the factions involved better than the many texts I have read on the subject. It chilled and warmed me. It made me wonder how such monsters exist in human form and how indomitable spirits find the courage to rise against them.
Having read and loved Majok Tulba's Beneath a Darkening Sky, I found myself comparing the two books. They could almost be companion volumes. Tulba's work was all passion and emotion. Songs of War Boy is told with uncommon powers of observation, and sometimes detachment. The author communicates his pain and despair with detail. For example, even as an adult he has no toenails - all lost on his childhood trek to the training camp.
I loved this book, and every Australian should read it.
February 12, 2018
An amazing story from an amazing man. Told in an almost passive manner his life has seen the worse and the best of mankind. He describes the events of his childhood which ended at the age of 7, his life in the SPLA as a child soldier, his move to Australia and his education and achievements as a lawyer and public speaker. There is a lot of wisdom and advice from a man who has seen what fear does, when a nation collapses, when a society knows no justice and how greed can be feed while the people go hungry. But just as his story is incredible, the power behind his messages of justice, quality and opportunity is in how he tells his tale.
January 21, 2018
It’s not a coincidence that my library had Songs of a War Boy on prominent display this week: the African community in Melbourne has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons. Scurrilous politicians attempting to whip up law-and-order issues in time for the next election have used the criminal behaviour of a very small teenage minority to besmirch an entire community – and I’m happy to join my library in promoting a book by an author who is – no disrespect intended – a bit of a poster boy for the African refugee community. (Though if you followed the uplifting and often humorous #AfricanGangs Twitter thread, you will have seen that there are numerous examples of Africans studying and working hard, achieving great things, and bringing up their families to be everyday Australians to be proud of).
(BTW I am using the term ‘African’ in the same way that I would use ‘European’. There are 54 countries recognised by the United Nations on the continent of Africa. I found the map at the front of the book very helpful for tracing Deng’s journey to freedom because my knowledge of African geography is a bit hazy, as it is for parts of post-Soviet Europe).
Deng, however, has gained a place in Australia’s heart as a spokesman for people of African origin. From the age of six Deng Thiak Adut was a child conscipt in southern Sudan, and was rescued and brought to Australian when he was fourteen. Through sheer grit and determination this illiterate teenager with no formal education mastered English, and went on to complete not just an undergraduate degree in law, but also a Master’s. He now has his own practice, the AC Law Group, in partnership with Joseph Correy, was awarded the New South Wales Australian of the Year for 2017 and was featured in a promotional video for Western Sydney University which immediately went viral and has been viewed almost three million times.
I thought I knew Deng’s story from the extensive media coverage so I only brought the book home to browse through, but I ended up reading it cover-to-cover and couldn’t put it down.
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2018/01/21/s...
(BTW I am using the term ‘African’ in the same way that I would use ‘European’. There are 54 countries recognised by the United Nations on the continent of Africa. I found the map at the front of the book very helpful for tracing Deng’s journey to freedom because my knowledge of African geography is a bit hazy, as it is for parts of post-Soviet Europe).
Deng, however, has gained a place in Australia’s heart as a spokesman for people of African origin. From the age of six Deng Thiak Adut was a child conscipt in southern Sudan, and was rescued and brought to Australian when he was fourteen. Through sheer grit and determination this illiterate teenager with no formal education mastered English, and went on to complete not just an undergraduate degree in law, but also a Master’s. He now has his own practice, the AC Law Group, in partnership with Joseph Correy, was awarded the New South Wales Australian of the Year for 2017 and was featured in a promotional video for Western Sydney University which immediately went viral and has been viewed almost three million times.
I thought I knew Deng’s story from the extensive media coverage so I only brought the book home to browse through, but I ended up reading it cover-to-cover and couldn’t put it down.
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2018/01/21/s...
February 3, 2017
As an EAL teacher who has taught, and does teach, students from the same area, along with other areas with similar horrific circumstances, this eye-opening account has given me a greater appreciation of the struggles individuals have faced and how hard they do strive to succeed in spite of all the obstacles faced.
The author has shown how dedication, courage, hard work and others' kindness can help overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
The author has shown how dedication, courage, hard work and others' kindness can help overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
April 11, 2017
A really interesting and thought-provoking read. I felt it lacked any depth though; it was just a chronology of events rather than the telling of a story. The situations and circumstances described within had the potential to draw on emotions, but it just fell short of being a compelling read.
December 1, 2018
This is one of those books that makes me feel so lucky that I was born were I was. Deng was born in a village in South Sudan. And was happy, until war came to his village. Then he was "recruited" as a child solider for the cause of independence.
Now while I understand the want for independence, nothing excuses child soldiers for me. And what Deng describes is horrific for an adult, let alone a kid. But kids are easier to indoctrinate for the "cause" so they make the perfect soldiers if you can get them physically strong enough. So I understand the want for children as soldiers, even if I think the whole premise is disgusting and immoral.
Deng escapes to Australia, and again, my luck of being a white Australian comes to a head again. I am judged for my abilities and education, not because of the colour of my skin. And while Deng has been able to fight his way through this, his brother unfortunately was always judged for his looks not his ability. It sickens me we are like this still.
It sickens me more as we are still going through this abhorrent stage in Australian history where we imprison refugees, and then restrict them to welfare when they finally get to Australia. To then pass laws this week to say that all refugees are on welfare (as we do not allow them to work) and therefore we will deny them welfare for 4 years. So if you get to Australia as a refugee, you cannot work, and cannot get welfare for 4 years now. Good luck.
You may become NSW Australian of the Year like Deng. You may defend Australians in our court system like Deng. You may want to work your arse off and be the best you can be with opportunities you could have only imagined while you were trained to kill men for other men's ideals like Deng. And while Deng has succeeded, and great luck to him and I am so very very very glad, the majority of the time this Lucky Country is reserved only for us White Australians.
Now while I understand the want for independence, nothing excuses child soldiers for me. And what Deng describes is horrific for an adult, let alone a kid. But kids are easier to indoctrinate for the "cause" so they make the perfect soldiers if you can get them physically strong enough. So I understand the want for children as soldiers, even if I think the whole premise is disgusting and immoral.
Deng escapes to Australia, and again, my luck of being a white Australian comes to a head again. I am judged for my abilities and education, not because of the colour of my skin. And while Deng has been able to fight his way through this, his brother unfortunately was always judged for his looks not his ability. It sickens me we are like this still.
It sickens me more as we are still going through this abhorrent stage in Australian history where we imprison refugees, and then restrict them to welfare when they finally get to Australia. To then pass laws this week to say that all refugees are on welfare (as we do not allow them to work) and therefore we will deny them welfare for 4 years. So if you get to Australia as a refugee, you cannot work, and cannot get welfare for 4 years now. Good luck.
You may become NSW Australian of the Year like Deng. You may defend Australians in our court system like Deng. You may want to work your arse off and be the best you can be with opportunities you could have only imagined while you were trained to kill men for other men's ideals like Deng. And while Deng has succeeded, and great luck to him and I am so very very very glad, the majority of the time this Lucky Country is reserved only for us White Australians.
March 4, 2024
Heel bijzonder en intrigerend verhaal! Dit leek het minst erge boek in een boekenwinkel in Vientiane maar was uiteindelijk echt heel gaaf om te lezen.
April 5, 2018
This book is amazing. I feel wrong really calling it a book, considering its pages depict a man's whole life; his struggles, dreams and triumph over adversity. Deng has inspired me and challenged my previous views on what it means to be Australian, as well as my "take it for granted" attitude to some of the basic ways of life in Australia. I feel like this is a must read for every Australian; in fact, I'd use this as teaching material to some of the high school students I've previously taught. Definitely recommend!
April 25, 2017
Deng's story is the type to make you look at your life so far and wonder what you've done to deserve so many advantages in life. Like many people I became aware of his story via the UWS commercial, and his autobiography is a sobering look into the life of a man who at the end of the day simply regards himself as lucky.
Recommended read.
Recommended read.
October 3, 2024
Amazing insight into what refugees have been through and struggle with and we/I just take for granted!
August 18, 2017
I wanted to give this book a higher rating because I admire and respect the author's resilience. However admiring the author's achievements in life as learning more about South Sudan is not enough. The writing is Ok but he is a lawyer not a writer. Perhaps someone else writing it would have turned it from good to great. The risk would then have been lack of authenticity. I recommend it to learn more about our South Sudanese Australians and the dignity and strength of this author.
February 11, 2018
Every Aussie should read this. More than worth your time, it will make you value your time.
June 3, 2022
A story that shook and shocked me. Deng Thiak Adut was seven when he was ripped from his family in South Sudan to train as a soldier, kill or be killed, wielding an Ak-47. He was seven. That was the most heartbreaking part of this story for me. He's seen so much war, death and distress - and he mentions nightmares on several occasions. No wonder. He's now an Australian citizen, a lawyer. Truly an amazing and deeply moving story.
May 19, 2019
An incredibly raw and confronting read. It is an amazing and harrowing journey which I am glad to have read. There is a straightforward simplicity to this book which gives the content that much more of an impact to the reader. It is at times horrifying, sad and hopeful. A must read.
January 4, 2020
A fascinating addition to the biography section of a primary library (suitable for upper primary students), this is an intriguing and horrifying story of a Sundanese boy soldier.
March 29, 2021
5 stars
June 14, 2021
What an amazing story. Deng is the definition of strong, in so many ways. It’s a miracle he’s alive today. What an inspiration. Such a great reminder of the freedom from fear that we often take for granted in this country.
September 27, 2018
Lost for words whilst reading this book. A compelling autobiography about his life that you could never imagine. Could not put this book down
March 28, 2017
A captivating story. I'm sure there are many more like this and many more worse. Child soldiers are a horrifying yet facinating movement. Deng, and his coauthor, did a great job exploring the confronting goings on of child soldier life. So much so that I had to put the book down for a day of two. My only complaint, and my reason for a four star review, is the length of some of the chapters. I understand it's written in periods of time, but I feel like it was drawn out. Particularly around the middle of the story.
December 3, 2017
"I think the idea that people are inherently anything- good, bad, violent, stupid, blessed or expendable- is the most dangerous idea in the world".
August 3, 2017
“Songs are our avatars and our biographies. They precede us, introduce us and live on after we die. They are also how our deeds escape our villages, and they pass on our code of morality, culture and law.” Deng was robbed of his own songs and his manhood, in the eyes of his culture. Robbed by tribal wars that made him a child soldier and later a refugee.
“Apathy robs you of your ability to try and tribalism steals your ability to find the things you believe in. Tribalism is also one of the few ways that one human can look at another and, knowing nothing about them, see them as lesser…All people, including refugees, should be recognised as the people that they are…Perhaps the songs of my life have had a different tone and cadence to yours, but they are about love and hope and yearning and sadness, just like yours.”
While writing the afterword to his book, Deng’s mother was squatting in Bor, crying for a home that no longer existed; his brother in a bush with his weapon in his hand and revenge on his mind; his family scattered, his village gone and he had no idea what their future was. He himself was in a Redfern pub having a pale ale, thinking about how the past can never be completely archived.
“Change can happen in places like Australia – we have the appropriate conditions…usable courts, elected leaders and there is no famine or debilitating war or economic crisis…There is no reason, as Australians, not to be our most inclusive, most compassionate selves…White is a colour to which so much can be added.”
“Apathy robs you of your ability to try and tribalism steals your ability to find the things you believe in. Tribalism is also one of the few ways that one human can look at another and, knowing nothing about them, see them as lesser…All people, including refugees, should be recognised as the people that they are…Perhaps the songs of my life have had a different tone and cadence to yours, but they are about love and hope and yearning and sadness, just like yours.”
While writing the afterword to his book, Deng’s mother was squatting in Bor, crying for a home that no longer existed; his brother in a bush with his weapon in his hand and revenge on his mind; his family scattered, his village gone and he had no idea what their future was. He himself was in a Redfern pub having a pale ale, thinking about how the past can never be completely archived.
“Change can happen in places like Australia – we have the appropriate conditions…usable courts, elected leaders and there is no famine or debilitating war or economic crisis…There is no reason, as Australians, not to be our most inclusive, most compassionate selves…White is a colour to which so much can be added.”
June 3, 2021
Like many others, I first came across Deng Adut through the now-famous Western Sydney University advertisement, detailing how education empowers people who are often through no fault of their own, mired in incredibly difficult circumstances.
As a keen advocate of asylum seeker and refugee issues, this book was engaging, provocative and inspiring. No one gets to choose where they're born, nor the circumstances in which they're born into.
Adut openly and graphically describes the most harrowing moments of his life, being forced from his family at the tender age of 7 and marching for days on end in order to join the Sudanese People's Liberation Army, in order to fight for a cause in which he didn't understand nor believe in. Yet, he was conscripted like another anonymous child soldier. How can one be used to such brutality and callousness at the tender age of 7? It's unfathomable how mentally straining and traumatic this must've been. It was only by coincidence that he managed to escape to Australia and make a name for himself as a lawyer, now with his own practice in Blacktown. In his own words, despite being in his early 30s at the time of the book's publishing, he has felt like he's lived 3 separate lives.
From the lofty comforts of a first world country, it's easy to overlook or repudiate the struggles of people like Adut. Too often are they besmirched unfairly for expedient political point-scoring, whereas we in fact have a moral obligation to help those who aren't so fortunate.
As a keen advocate of asylum seeker and refugee issues, this book was engaging, provocative and inspiring. No one gets to choose where they're born, nor the circumstances in which they're born into.
Adut openly and graphically describes the most harrowing moments of his life, being forced from his family at the tender age of 7 and marching for days on end in order to join the Sudanese People's Liberation Army, in order to fight for a cause in which he didn't understand nor believe in. Yet, he was conscripted like another anonymous child soldier. How can one be used to such brutality and callousness at the tender age of 7? It's unfathomable how mentally straining and traumatic this must've been. It was only by coincidence that he managed to escape to Australia and make a name for himself as a lawyer, now with his own practice in Blacktown. In his own words, despite being in his early 30s at the time of the book's publishing, he has felt like he's lived 3 separate lives.
From the lofty comforts of a first world country, it's easy to overlook or repudiate the struggles of people like Adut. Too often are they besmirched unfairly for expedient political point-scoring, whereas we in fact have a moral obligation to help those who aren't so fortunate.
January 24, 2018
The epic story of the Sudanese child soldier at the age of 11 to that successful lawyer in Sydney, Deng Adut's life story and the struggles he experienced to become the man he is today, are narrated in a flawless way through the biography. The ruthless civil war which the Sudanese went through, which had thousands of kids recruited as child soldiers is honestly scary to read.
Every nasty experience he goes through, from his 33 day journey to Ethiopia when he was 7 or 8, getting used to firing the AK-47 at the age of 11, seeing the atrocities that happened around him, the childhood he lost as a result are depicted in this blunt yet subtle way that twists the minds of the reader in a way that's bizarre to explain.
His late life in Sydney and the perseverance he had to seek a career in criminal law (and eventually being voted as the Australian of the Year for New South Wales in 2017) despite the very little early education and English knowledge he had is a treat to read.
Every nasty experience he goes through, from his 33 day journey to Ethiopia when he was 7 or 8, getting used to firing the AK-47 at the age of 11, seeing the atrocities that happened around him, the childhood he lost as a result are depicted in this blunt yet subtle way that twists the minds of the reader in a way that's bizarre to explain.
His late life in Sydney and the perseverance he had to seek a career in criminal law (and eventually being voted as the Australian of the Year for New South Wales in 2017) despite the very little early education and English knowledge he had is a treat to read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews