In 2001 before the attacks of 9/11, approximately 4,000 Sudanese Lost Boy and Girl refugees arrived in the United States. As victims of genocidal (un)civil war which has raged in Southern Sudan for over twenty years, they have spent the majority of their lives in refugee camps of Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. Since the ages of 3 to 7, the tides of war have forced them to flee as groups of children through the deserts on thousand mile treks. Most have lost their parents and siblings, having seen them perish or killed before their eyes. They have survived war, thirst, starvation, and personal loss that has scarred their souls but never beat them. Now in their early twenties, the Lost Boys and Girls living in the United States embody the hope for their country’s future. Most are attending college while working several jobs to support their family members left in the camps. It is their hope that through their education, they will gain the knowledge and means to rebuild their country and save the lives of their loved ones left behind.
This was an inspiring book. Their stories, strength, courage, and will to strive for life touch my heart and soul! My compassion have stretched from one end of the world to the other end. They've opened my perspectives to life outside and beyond of my own.
If you're looking for a book with a home run straight to the soul, this is the book of the year!
As a former NFL player, I thought I was tough. But when I read what these young boys overcame, it made me appreciate what life is really about. A friend recommended the book and after I started it, I couldn't put it down until I finished it the next morning. Their triumph over all odds is uplifting. After the tragic events of recent days, this is a must read for all to learn about the strength of the human spirit.
A courageous and inspirational book. A must read!, June 14, 2005
Rarely does a book come along that is so moving and inspirational that it is hard to put down and at the same time thought provoking. "They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky" is told in the unique voice of three young men who overcame and survived obstacles we can hardly imagine. Their mentor wrote a heartfelt introduction and helped to weave this book into a page-turner. But it is not the hardships that you will remember after reading this book, it's their unique views on life, their courage, and their will to survive that will live in your memories for a long time to come.
It is by far the best non-fiction book in print and a must read for all book groups and readers looking for inspiration in a world where atrocities and genocide have become common place.
WOW... this book touched my heart!, September 10, 2005
Couldn't put it down, September 9, 2005
A courageous and inspirational book. A must read!, June 14, 2005