Reviews

Of Beetles and Angels: A Boy's Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard by

maryehavens's review against another edition

3.0

Really 3.5 stars for the impact this book made in getting other African refugee stories noticed and published. And for the work Asgedom’s foundation did afterward.
Asgedom’s message of kindness and finding worth in every person is one we all need to carry and renew daily. Kudos to him for all his hard work and the work. The tragedies he endured created so much good for others even if it was so incredibly difficult to continue.

ttayfel1997's review against another edition

4.0

Wow, what an inspiring story. I honestly don't know what to say about this book. I read through this book with my fifth-grade class and it was amazing to see how it affected each of us in different ways. At the same time, we all were moved by the story itself. There were so many instances in this book that left me with goosebumps up and down my arms. It's so inspiring that Mawi wen through so much tradegy, but was still able to succeed in the end.

jewlzruwe's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

madamstassica's review against another edition

5.0

I'm honestly thankful that my school required this of us, and I think more schools should require it. It's a rags to riches story, but a bit more heartfelt than these stories often go. It's not just a story of someone who raised himself up from a hard knock life. It's not just a story of a Ethiopian refugee, who happened to be valedictorian of Harvard University. Sure, the story follows the life of someone who accomplished these things, and overall, the story is a nice outline of what hard work really means, and where it can get you...but at it's core, it's a story of love, and how very important it is to show love in this world.

jenn_h's review

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.5

anielabooks's review

hopeful inspiring reflective

4.0

ubalstecha's review against another edition

5.0

Mawi Asgedom has lead a unique life. As a young refugee, fleeing from the Ethiopian civil wars with his family with nothing more than the clothes on their backs, Mawi could never have dreamed he would end up where he did, giving the commencement address at Harvard. This is the story of how he got there.

Called one of the ten most interesting people she's ever met, Mawi is the American dream embodied. His story is powerful, gripping, moving and inspirational. Especially to the generations of immigrants that have followed him.

Worth getting.

faygof9's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.0

bluebook08's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted sad fast-paced

5.0

threeundertwopnw's review against another edition

4.0

Inspiring story of an Ethiopian immigrant who worked hard and graduated from Harvard. Aimed primarily at young readers.