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courtneyjane's review against another edition
5.0
Such a great read, and one that required me to do some personal reflecting.
I found my own ignorance of the Rwandan genocide to be appalling. I knew of it of course but had no idea it was an event that lasted just 100 days but claimed almost a million lives. That to no surprise the racial tensions were started by Belgians, imperialists, who ran at the first sight of the mess they caused.
I can you tell you facts upon facts about the holocaust. I am disturbed thinking of the way the holocaust was taught in school, under the guise of "never again." When in fact it did happened again and just a decade before I was learning about WWII.
It's happening right now in China.
Whiteness should not factor into empathy and education.
Clemantine, I'm sorry you were a victim paraded on our television shows for entertainment. Made to perform when you were confused and lost.
I found my own ignorance of the Rwandan genocide to be appalling. I knew of it of course but had no idea it was an event that lasted just 100 days but claimed almost a million lives. That to no surprise the racial tensions were started by Belgians, imperialists, who ran at the first sight of the mess they caused.
I can you tell you facts upon facts about the holocaust. I am disturbed thinking of the way the holocaust was taught in school, under the guise of "never again." When in fact it did happened again and just a decade before I was learning about WWII.
It's happening right now in China.
Whiteness should not factor into empathy and education.
Clemantine, I'm sorry you were a victim paraded on our television shows for entertainment. Made to perform when you were confused and lost.
cdebrecz's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
ruedavis's review against another edition
5.0
This is how I like to learn about history and the world, personal experiences. Clemantine walks you through her life experiences and how she felt. It is not a news report of world events, but a personal understanding and involvement of the impact.
camila_lezcano's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
bec13's review against another edition
4.75
One of the best memoirs I’ve read. The non-linear storytelling worked great. I think some books on refugees leaving their home country and resettling in another country can add to a white saviour (not saying this is intentional), which is something this book managed to challenge well. it also really showed that things aren’t just fixed as soon as you arrive at a ‘safer’ country
probablyjenna's review against another edition
5.0
Clemantine is a survivor of the Rwandan genocide. She shares her story of fleeing violence, living in African refugee camps for years, and processing the trauma of her childhood. It is beautifully written and so deeply vulnerable; it’s impossible to not become entirely engrossed in her journey. It also feels very painfully timely when you consider the violence currently upending lives in Palestine.
kellyncorrado's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this more than I did. The importance of this story being told is so critical; the genocide is something that I was very removed from, both as it was happening and even as an adult. I remember the first I even became aware of it was when the movie Hotel Rwanda came out when I was in high school. But even after that, it didn't feel like something that was discussed enough, at least in my household (and shame on me for not doing my own homework). Despite the horrific events that Clementine experienced, the prose didn't do it for me. It sometimes felt disconnected and randomly jumpy. Sometimes I would get really invested in a particular storyline or thought she was developing and then it would cut. I don't know... so much to unpack here but ultimately it left me a little underwhelmed.
emkatec's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.5