Quote of the Week

We had to have humor. It is human nature. No matter how bad the situation is, if you can’t find any humor then life is not worth it.

– Benson Deng, Alephonsion Deng & Benjamin Ajak, They Poured Fire On Us From the Sky

They Poured Fire On Us From the Sky is a true story about a group of three boys who were a part of the “Lost Boys of Sudan,” a group of children who faced extraordinary odds (starvation, the loss of their parents and families, disease, animal attacks, and war) during the war in Sudan in the late 1990s. The book chronicles how they managed to survive the horrors of war and follows them as they seek (and eventually find) asylum in America. 

When I read this book a couple of months ago I gave it five stars. It is quite extraordinary, as I had to keep reminding myself that these were just little boys going through these horrific experiences, not adults. I also found myself checking the boys’ picture on the back flap to constantly reassure myself that they are indeed still alive and that many years have passed since the events described in the book. The resilience of this book is inspiring, that children can rely on humor during the worst time of their lives is nothing short of awesome.