Say You're One of Them (Oprah's Book Club)

Each story in this jubilantly acclaimed collection pays testament to the wisdom and resilience of children, even in the face of the most agonizing circumstances. A family living in a makeshift shanty in urban Kenya scurries to find gifts of any kind for the impending Christmas holiday. A Rwandan girl relates her family's struggles to maintain a facade of normalcy amid unspeakable acts. A young brother and sister cope with their uncle's attempt to sell them into slavery. Aboard a bus filled with refugees-a microcosm of today's Africa-a Muslim boy summons his faith to bear a treacherous ride across Nigeria. Through the eyes of childhood friends the emotional toll of religious conflict in Ethiopia becomes viscerally clear. Uwem Akpan's debut signals the arrival of a breathtakingly talented writer who gives a matter-of-fact reality to the most extreme circumstances in stories that are nothing short of transcendent. An Oprah's Book Club selection: this "electrifying" book ( Washington Post ) pays tribute to the wisdom and resilience of children even in the face of the most agonizing circumstances. Uwem Akpan's stunning stories humanize the perils of poverty and violence so piercingly that few readers will feel they've ever encountered Africa so immediately. The eight-year-old narrator of "An Ex-Mas Feast" needs only enough money to buy books and pay fees in order to attend school. Even when his twelve-year-old sister takes to the streets to raise these meager funds, his dream can't be granted. Food comes first. His family lives in a street shanty in Nairobi, Kenya, but their way of both loving and taking advantage of each other strikes a universal chord. In the second of his stories published in a New Yorker special fiction issue, Akpan takes us far beyond what we thought we knew about the tribal conflict in Rwanda. The story is told by a young girl, who, with her little brother, witnesses the worst possible scenario between parents. They are asked to do the previously unimaginable in order to protect their children. This singular collection will also take the reader inside Nigeria, Benin, and Ethiopia, revealing in beautiful prose the harsh consequences for children of life in Africa. Akpan's voice is a literary miracle, rendering lives of almost unimaginable deprivation and terror into stories that are nothing short of transcendent. One of the best books of the year: Wall Street Journal , People , Bloomberg News, Christian Science Monitor, Washington Post Book World, and Entertainment Weekly Uwem Akpan's stunning stories humanize the perils of poverty and violence so piercingly that few readers will feel they've ever encountered Africa so immediately. The eight-year-old narrator of "An Ex-Mas Feast" needs only enough money to buy books and pay fees in order to attend school. Even when his twelve-year-old sister takes to the streets to raise these meager funds, his dream can't be granted. Food comes first. His family lives in a street shanty in Nairobi , Kenya , but their way of both loving and taking advantage of each other strikes a universal chord. In the second of his stories published in a New Yorker special fiction issue, Akpan takes us far beyond what we thought we knew about the tribal conflict in Rwanda . The story is told by a young girl, who, with her little brother, witnesses the worst possible scenario between parents. They are asked to do the previously unimaginable in order to protect their children. This singular collection will also take the reader inside Nigeria, Benin, and Ethiopia , revealing in beautiful prose the harsh consequences for children of life in Africa.Akpan's voice is a literary miracle, rendering lives of almost unimaginable deprivation and terror into stories that are nothing short of transcendent. Bonus ebook content: includes an interview with "The New Yorker," additional photos of the author, discussion questions and topics, and a link to a music download. Uwem Akpan's Stunning Stories Humanize The Perils Of Poverty And Violence So Piercingly That Few Readers Will Feel They've Ever Encountered Africa So Immediately. The Eight-year-old Narrator Of An Ex-mas Feast Needs Only Enough Money To Buy Books And Pay Fees In Order To Attend School. Even When His Twelve-year-old Sister Takes To The Streets To Raise These Meager Funds, His Dream Can't Be Granted. Food Comes First. His Family Lives In A Street Shanty In Nairobi, Kenya, But Their Way Of Both Loving And Taking Advantage Of Each Other Strikes A Universal Chord. In The Second Of His Stories Published In A New Yorker Special Fiction Issue, Akpan Takes Us Far Beyond What We Thought We Knew About The Tribal Conflict In Rwanda. The Story Is Told By A Young Girl, Who, With Her Little Brother, Witnesses The Worst Possible Scenario Between Parents. They Are Asked To Do The Previously Unimaginable In Order To Protect Their Children. This Singular Collection Will Also Take The Reader Inside Nigeria, Benin, And Ethiopia, Revealing In Beautiful Prose The Harsh Consequences For Children Of Life In Africa. Akpan's Voice Is A Literary Miracle, Rendering Lives Of Almost Unimaginable Deprivation And Terror Into Stories That Are Nothing Short Of Transcendent. Bonus Ebook Content: Includes An Interview With The New Yorker, Additional Photos Of The Author, Discussion Questions And Topics, And A Link To A Music Download. Each story in this jubilantly acclaimed collection pays testament to the wisdom and resilience of children, even in the face of the most agonizing circumstances. A family living in a makeshift shanty in urban Kenya scurries to find gifts of any kind for the impending Christmas holiday. A Rwandan girl relates her family’s struggles to maintain a facade of normalcy amid unspeakable acts. A young brother and sister cope with their uncle’s attempt to sell them into slavery. Aboard a bus filled with refugees—a microcosm of today’s Africa—a Muslim boy summons his faith to bear a treacherous ride across Nigeria. Through the eyes of childhood friends the emotional toll of religious conflict in Ethiopia becomes viscerally clear. Uwem Akpan’s debut signals the arrival of a breathtakingly talented writer who gives a matter-of-fact reality to the most extreme circumstances in stories that are nothing short of transcendent. ** Fiction,General,Short Stories (Single Author) A collection of tales about modern African children in crisis includes "An Ex-Mas Feast, " in which an eight-year-old child shares in his family's sacrifices to obtain enough food and enable his education