![]() ![]() ![]() I thought the criticism somewhat harsh and not as extreme as the reviewer felt. I agree that Kek might lack some authenticity and there are didactic moments, but I did like how the author has him deal with grief and life in a new land. I didn't notice this when reading the book, but that could be because I have worked with Sudanese boys and my brain already knows about their culture and plight. There is a Kirkus review that criticizes this book for Kek's character being stereotyped and not fleshed out enough. When he gets a job helping on a farm, it reminds him of back home when he helped take care of the village cattle. Humor is balanced with tragedy through the eyes of Kek, who tries to see the good in life. To desperately long to return to what is comfortable and familiar. Kek thinks Dave's partial use of Dinka and English sounds like ".a song always out of tune, / missing notes / To help him, / I try some English / but my mouth just wants to chew the words / and spit them on the ground." She captures what it is like to be new to a country. Dave is a an American helping Kek, a Sudanese refugee, settle in Minnesota with his cousin and aunt. ![]() Katherine Applegate puts words together creating beautiful images. ![]()
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