Saturday, 27 July 2024

Book Review: Father of the Lost Boys (young readers ed.) by Yuot A. Alaak

 Father of the Lost Boys

by

Yuot A. Alaak

THE MECAK AJANG ALAAK STORY
 
Publisher: Fremantle Press
Publication date: 4th June 2024
Genre: Middle Grade / Non Fiction
Pages: 160
RRP: AU$17.99 (softcover)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: Father of the Lost Boys

Father of the Lost Boys for younger readers is a rewrite of the adult edition to be appropriate reading for younger readers aged 8+ years. I haven't read the adult version but I feel this book will have less graphic detail of the death and destruction rained on the people of Sudan. 
 
Yuot recounts the harrowing journey of Mecak Ajang Alaak as he walks 20,000 displaced boys aged 8-12 years, over a period of 2 years, to freedom. He was a man of tremendous moral and ethical stature and he instilled this in his son and the boys that looked to him for guidance
 
Not only is Father of the Lost Boys a wonderful story of courage and perseverance it also teaches a lot about the history of unrest in Sudan and neighbouring countries. I learnt a lot from Yuot's story. 

Reading Father of the Lost Boys gives the opportunity to teach empathy and compassion for refugees and displaced persons. A real eye opener for children to see what children in other countries deal with and how they work together and still manage to find joy in the simplest things in life.
 
My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
About the author
 
Yuot A. Alaak currently lives in Perth with his family where he works as a mining professional, having attained degrees in geosciences and engineering. 

Recommneded age: 8 -14 years

CONTENT: death of children from hunger and exhaustion
                   children taken by wild animals
                   an execution by firing squad
                   some children drown

See Fremantle Press website for teaching notes and activities.
https://fremantlepress.com.au/books/father-of-the-lost-boys-for-younger-readers/


 


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