Hanna Jansen

As it is an account of the Rwandan genocide in 1994, this book is inevitably painful and upsetting. The style of writing is simple and clear, in keeping with the point of view of a young survivor, Jeanne. I would perhaps have liked a bit more background and context for events, but that was not really the intention of the book. It is a personal account, to bring the horrible abstraction of a million deaths down to the individual level and make it comprehensible to young people. As such it show more succeeds. The events of genocide appear nightmarishly arbitrary. Jeanne lost her whole family and kept her own life only through luck. I did not find this book enjoyable, but it was powerful and important. The horrific events in Rwanda should not be forgotten. show less

What a horrifying read! Riveting tale of how things can change overnight. An ordinary life of a young girl becomes a nightmare tale of survival when there is political upheaval. I wasn't fond of the beginning of each chapter--I thought it was confusing and distracting.

The first YA novel I know of having to do with the Rwandan genocide of Hutus and Tutsis. The book is based on the German author's adoptive child's experiences in Rwanda during the mid-90s genocide. Jeanne and her family live a fairly comfortable life in Rwanda until the assassination of the president and his cabinet causes chaos throughout the country. As Tutsis, the family is forced to flee invading Hutus who are murdering citizens and destroying property. Jeanne witnesses her mother's and show more brother's deaths, and loses the rest of her family. She has to rely on the questionable tolerance of strangers to survive another day. show less

This is a moving, unforgettable story based on the life of the author‰ÃƒÂ›Ã‚ªs adoptive daughter. At an early age, Jeanne battles to stay alive and she sees atrocities no child should ever be witness to. While this could never be described as a ‰Û÷nice‰Ûª story it does end with a feeling of hope for Jeanne‰Ûªs future.