Hanna JansenCritiques

The first YA novel I know of having to do with the Rwandan genocide of Hutus and Tutsis. The book is based on the German author's adoptive child's experiences in Rwanda during the mid-90s genocide. Jeanne and her family live a fairly comfortable life in Rwanda until the assassination of the president and his cabinet causes chaos throughout the country. As Tutsis, the family is forced to flee invading Hutus who are murdering citizens and destroying property. Jeanne witnesses her mother's and brother's deaths, and loses the rest of her family. She has to rely on the questionable tolerance of strangers to survive another day.

This is a moving, unforgettable story based on the life of the author‰ÃƒÂ›Ã‚ªs adoptive daughter. At an early age, Jeanne battles to stay alive and she sees atrocities no child should ever be witness to. While this could never be described as a ‰Û÷nice‰Ûª story it does end with a feeling of hope for Jeanne‰Ûªs future.

This book is about about a girl named Jeanne D'Arc. Before the Rwandan Genocide, she was a typical Rwandan girl. Then one day, Jeanne had to flee her home to escape jailors who were killing all the Tutsis. Unfortunately, Jeanne was the only one in her family who survived. Later on, Jeanne stayed with the Rebels until going to live with her aunt in Germany.
I liked this book very much. I felt very sorry for her when she realized that her parents and siblings died. I admired her strength when she asked the Rebels for help.

I thought this book was gripping from the beginning sentence. It shows the ugly face of genocide, in a heartwrenching manner. I would highly recommend.

Reviewed by Taylor Rector for TeensReadToo.com

OVER A THOUSAND HILLS I WALK WITH YOU is the horrifying novel that is based on a true story about the 1994 Rwandan genocide. This was a subject that I didn't know too much about until I read this book, which made me realize how horrible events such as this one are still happening in today's society. How we could let this happen is beyond me.

The book is written by the adoptive mother of Jeanne to tell the story that is often called the modern day Holocaust. As with the original Holocaust, many children were left to fight for themselves and try and find a new way to survive. Jeanne's family is killed and she is left to fend for herself, and the book is about how she achieves that.

When you read this book you aren't on the basic level of thinking. You are much beyond that. The imagery in this book is not good, because in no way do you want this to happen to anyone, but at the same time it's very real. I felt as if I were standing the fields and forests and homes of these people and was surrounded by people fighting for their lives.

A child's personal account delivered through a second person, providing an excellent account of the Rwanda genocide. Detailed and heart stopping in its daily account of survival through to a new life in a new country.

Africa - Rwanda
Jeanne D'Arc, 8 year old, Tutsi in Rwanda when war breaks out in 1996. This is a translation from the story originally written in German by Jeanne's adoptive mother. The language is a little uneven, I think, due to the translation. From the cover flap: "Before that fateful April Day...

What a horrifying read! Riveting tale of how things can change overnight. An ordinary life of a young girl becomes a nightmare tale of survival when there is political upheaval. I wasn't fond of the beginning of each chapter--I thought it was confusing and distracting.½

The book is smoothly translated from German. The writing is descriptive and recreates the emotions felt by its main character. Although Jeanne is eight years old, the book is more suitable for high school than younger readers because of the brutal depiction of the horrors she witnesses during the Rwanda genocide. There is an appended timeline which provides historical and political context. The book would be useful in the discussion of the philosophical issues of genocide. It is painful to read and yet inspiring.

FROM LIBRARY CATALOG:

"Jeanne and her family, who are Tutsis living in Rwanda during a time of civil war, flee their home in hopes of evading Hutu soldiers as political events threaten to overtake them."

Andis sitzt am See und erzählt Theresa das Märchen von der Wassernixe.
Da taucht plötzlich jemand aus dem See auf: Lilo, eine junge Frau, die dort gebadet hat. Theresa, Andis kleine Schwester, ist sich sicher: Lilo ist niemand anders als die Wassernixe. Andis dagegen ist hin- und hergerissen. Niemals zuvor ist er einer derart unkonventionellen Frau begegnet. Lilo spielt Bluesstücke auf einem Grashalm, lebt in den Tag hinein und tut, was ihr gefällt. Eines Tages verschwindet Lilo plötzlich spurlos und mit ihr Andis kleine Schwester Theresa …

This is an extraordinary and devastating book. It needs to be on the school curriculum, like the Diary of Anne Frank, or All Quiet on the Western Front. I will never forget it.
EMMA THOMPSON

very good. made me want to know more about rwanda. Got the sense of confusion and nowhere being safe because it was an event i don't know anything about.

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