A good example of realistic fiction because this story was based on the true experiences of some of the lost boys. While the main character, Garang, may not have been a literally true person, the story told about him is composed of real experiences. When the war devastatingly hit civilians of Sudan, Garang was left orphaned. Many young boys lost their families because of the cultural gender roles that the boys were fulfilling by being out in the fields working while parents and sisters were in town. The group of boys (and some girls, although not mentioned in this book) had to escape the war and were led to Ethiopia and then to Kenya to a refugee camp at Kakuma. From there some of them were given the opportunity to move to the United States. This journey lasted years and a devastating number of Sundanese died in the process. This story informs the reader of the tragedies experienced by Sudan and perhaps teaches a lesson about war and compassion.

Media: acrylic ( )

This is a biography about the Lost Boys of Sudan. The author interviewed 10 Lost Boys and this book tells their stories. The boys' story is told in chronological order beginning in Sudan and ending in a refugee camp in Kenya. This story contains accurate facts as the author details the journey of the Lost Boys from Sudan to Ethiopia to Kenya.

Setting: This is a very appropriate setting for the book because the boys live in Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya.

Media: acrylic paint

Brothers in Hope won the 2006 Honor Illustrator Award for the illustrations done by R. Gregory Christie. I think Christie did a great job with the autumn colored illustrations. Through illustrations, readers can visualize hundreds of boys walking along dirt roads to safety. The map in the back of the book gives readers an idea of how far the boys traveled.

Genre: Biography
Age Appropriateness: Intermediate
Review: This book is a good example of a biography because it tells the story of eight-year-old Garang, who is orphaned by a civil war in Sudan. The information is true and accurate. Garang is among the thousands of orphaned boys whose village have been attacked. They walk hundreds of miles seeking safety while encountering dangers and hardships. However, they keep their faith and help each other. This is a heartbreaking yet true story that shows how these brothers endured courage and overcame tragedy.
Media: This book is a good example of ink and wash media. The pictures are outlined with ink to create the skeleton of the illustration and then is filed with watercolor wash. The illustrations are blended well and have even flow.
Setting: The time is important in this book to convey the trials that were occurring in Sudan and Africa. It gives readers a clearer picture of the political struggles occurring in that part of the world. It also allows readers to sympathize how war can be so cruel and injustice in our generation.

This book is about a young boy from Sudan named Garang. War broke out in Sudan so he fled and hid in some trees. When he went back to his village, no parents were there only several young boys. They traveled to Ethiopia to be safe from war. When they got there, they went to school and stayed in a refugee camp. When war broke out in Ethiopia, the boys had to travel somewhere safe so they decided to go to Kenya. When they got to Kenya, Garang shared his story with a man named Tom, who had helped them with everything.

I enjoyed this story because it is historical and teaches children a little about war. It let’s children know what happened to some people long ago. The pictures in the book were illustrated nicely.

For extension ideas in the classroom, I would have the students research the lost boys of Sudan and make a map of their journey. The could draw where they traveled and what they think it might have looked like when they got to where they were traveling. ( )