They Poured Fire on us From the Sky

They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky - The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan by Alephonsion Deng, Benson Deng, Benjamin Ajak is a memoir of three survivors, recently relocated to San Diego under the guidance of Judy A. Bernstein.
The three boys, two brothers and one cousin were ages 4-6 when they fled their village due to violence and destruction from the Murahiliin. For the next 12 or so years, they were on the run from one unstable village to the next, trying to survive with very little food and water. After making it to one refugee camp in Ethiopia they are gunned down at the Gilo River trying to leave. The boys paths merge and separate many times but finally, despite all the odds, make it to Kakuma, a refugee camp in Kenya.
This non-fiction account is interesting in that the paths these boys take is very similar to that of Valentino Achak Deng in the semi-fictional What is the What, including the Gilo River Massacre and the final destination of Kakuma. What is interesting however are some smaller details. These boys also paint a much harsher picture of Kakuma than Valentino's experience. Scarce food, beatings and general intimidation are a part of daily life.
What I find interesting about this book is it describes a little of their lives after arriving in the United States. This book was interesting and a worthwhile read.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in world politics, current events, coming of age memoirs, or refugees (specifically refugee children). It is accessible and honest.

"At the encouragement of their mentor, Judy Bernstein, they have written their memories for publication to aid in their education expenses. Bravely and eloquently, they each describe life before their Dinka villages were attacked by government-armed Murahiliin and subsequently surviving starvation, cruelty, and family separation. Despite having disparate cultural and societal norms from the Western world, these men reveal the constancy of human nature: missing a mother, happiness at finding a brother, the thirst for education, and a will to survive. What is most amazing is that these men, now in their twenties, were only five to seven years old when their harrowing experiences began. The arrangement of the chapters helps the reader understand the chronology of events and allows for a compelling narrative reminiscent of Holocaust survivor stories." - Library Journal Review