You see, Dieudonne had spent twelve years of his childhood in a refugee camp. His parents were a mixed marriage of Hutus and Tutsis. When soldiers told his father that he had to kill his wife, they ran, making their way to Tanzania. They ended up in a UN refugee camp.
When Dieudonne was fifteen, he and his siblings were able to immigrate to the United States. Dieudonne joined a storefront church that became the church home for the refugee community. He knew the children needed direction and connection to their new home while embracing their heritage. He started a choir that combined Bible and cultural teachings. The children showed improvement in their behavior and their parents were amazed.
It's just a choir.
I was surprised to be so moved by the five stories shared by Susan Kuklin's In Search of Safety. When I won the book on LibraryThing I had no idea how this book would impact me. The stories of why these people left their homeland was troubling and horrifying, But telling of their new life in safety, I was uplifted and joyful.
The stories are in the words of the people featured, revealing their personality and showing the depth of their emotional and physical experiences. Although they come from different countries each settled in Nebraska.
From Afghanistan, Fraidoon was a translator for the US army. He was under threat of death by the Taliban and sought to immigrate to America. US soldiers confirmed his unwavering loyalty and bravery.
From Myanmar, Nathan was raised in a refugee camp in Thailand and came to America at age twelve. His father worked factory jobs and as a meatpacker, moving to cities that provided his son with the best educational opportunities. Nathan earned a scholarship to college and became an American citizen.
Shireen from Northern Iraq was part of an ethnic minority group that has survived seventy-three genocides before ISIS attacked them. To avoid rape and sexual slavery, Shireen poised as her cousin's wife and later pretended to be paralyzed. She was rescued and taken to a refugee camp before coming to America.
And last there is Dieudonne from Burundi who came from a comfortable home, his father able to raise everything they needed.
This is a marvelous resource for age 14 and up.
The book is filled with color photographs and includes maps.
I won a free book from the publisher through LibraryThing. My review is fair and unbiased.
In Search of Safety: Voices of Refugees
by Susan Kuklin
Publication March 27, 2020
Published by Candlewick
Hardcover $24.99
ISBN 9780763679606
from the publisher:
The five, originally from Afghanistan, Myanmar, South Sudan, Iraq, and Burundi, give gripping first-person testimonies about what it is like to flee war, face violent threats, grow up in a refugee camp, be sold into slavery, and resettle in America. Illustrated with full-color photographs of the refugees’ new lives in Nebraska, this work is essential reading for understanding the devastating impact of war and persecution — and the power of resilience, optimism, and the will to survive. Included in the end matter are chapter notes, information on resettlement and U.S. citizenship, historical time lines of war and political strife in the refugees’ countries of origin, resources for further reading, and an index.
As a refugee of the past, this was a beautiful read.
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