Burlingame, Jeff. The Lost Boy of Sudan.

Burlingame, Jeff.     The Lost Boy of Sudan.       Marshall Cavendish/Benchmark, 2012.  80p. $23.95

ISBN 978-1-60870-475-0       ms/hs   E-BN 

This book presents a concise retelling of the horrors experienced by children caught in the civil wars in Sudan.  Photographs, some very grim, bring their plight into sharp focus. The Americanization of some of the refugees met with mixed success.  The first chapter tells the history of Sudan from early times through the start of the civil wars. Each time civil war broke out, the looting and raids on villages caused families to flee, with many children losing track of their families. The boys who survived faced forced marches, relief efforts that were never enough, and finally a hope that they could emigrate to America. The harsh conditions in which they survived in their native land are heartbreaking to read.  Many personal narratives are interwoven to give a sense of immediacy to the writing.  The refugee effort to assimilate the Lost Boys who emigrated into life in the United States had its shortcomings, as the older teens were not provided the support necessary to be successful in a strange land.  Those who were of school age faired much better.  A timeline, glossary, list of resources for further reading, and an index complete the book.  The series Great Escapes provides an up-close and personal look at the conditions under which survivors have lived and managed to start a new life after escaping conditions of horror. The books are well illustrated and include personal quotations embedded in the narrative.           

Subject: Refugees -- Sudan                                                                                          Lois McNicol