Ana Eulate

This is an amazing story that children and adults need to read. It is a children's book but it is a real story of a boy snatched out of the arms of his mother at a Catholic mass. That ended his childhood. He was locked up in a shack by soldiers. Cold and hungry, three older boys told him that they were ready to escape and if he went with them, he would have to run and run. The four made it to Kenya to a refugee camp. He never saw those boys again but had a new family of eleven boys. He ran show more eighteen miles around the large camp every day. He was inspired by the 2000 Olympic games that he watched on an old black and white TV set with other boys. He decided what what he wanted to do.

That was the beginning of his next journey that would eventually lead him to be a champion runner at many Olympics and form friendships and be family to others.

The vivid colors in the illustrations stand out and the story is very inspiring for children as well as adults.

I received this finished copy by making a selection from Amazon Vine books but that in no way influenced my thoughts or feelings in this review. I also posted this review only on sites meant for reading not for selling. show less

~ review copy was provided

This book by Ana Eulate is beautiful. I found the story to be amazing and inspirational. In fact, I can't wait for my teens to get home so I can share it with them. Yes, teenagers. I think it's entirely suitable for teens in the US because it presents the story of a world they know little about. One of great darkness and one where there are amazing sparks of light.

Lopez Lomong is a US Champion runner and now an American citizen. But he didn't attain his university show more degree nor his citizenship the easy way. He was torn away from his mother's lap during a church mass in Sudan. He almost died in the captivity of militants, but escaped with the help of older boys who promised to watch over him.

*I don't mention this to spoil the story but to give adults who are reading this book to younger children an idea of what happens. There are moments to cheer about, and moments that are sad, but I know that this is not a book I would have read to my young son because he would have found the separation of parents and children too sad. The subject is handled beautifully but might not be perfect for every child. It would have been fine, for example for my daughter.

I think most everyone --young or old-- will find Lomong's story to be inspirational. It's just a good old-fashioned rags-to-riches, or desert poverty to Nike-signing, story. And children will get to see the good that adults and even children like them can do. Not as mighty nations but as individuals. How people can open their hearts to save and care for others.

Of course, it's not possible to help such children any more; but it's very nice to be able to point to the past when Christian/Jewish/(fill in your belief system here) sympathy provided protection and opportunity for children like the Lost Boys of Sudan. I will be sure to point out to all our children that such great acts are still being carried out by people in many other places in the world. show less

This book is about a little Native American child who brings Native American tribes together by telling stories with his hands. This book explains that you can take a disability and make it a strength as is illustrated through Walking Eagle who was born club-footed and uses that disability to become an expert horseman. This book presents the Native American culture in a positive way and expands children's minds through adventure and exploration.

This is an amazing book. I love the take on such an extreme as war, it is a great children's book for introducing the ideas of war and peace but in the perspective of a child.