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jaij7's review against another edition
5.0
I read A Long Walk to Water to my class every year. I will add this book to that unit. It will be a great pairing.
erinmp's review against another edition
4.0
Powerful picture book about the "Lost Boys" of Sudan. The book, a fictionalized account based on the true stories of many of the boys, tells of a a young boy who is startled by an attack on his village while attending to his family's cows. When he returns to the village, he finds that it is deserted, his family gone. Soon other boys appear, but still no adults. The boys decide to head to Ethiopia, where they have heard that it may be safe. The book details the dangerous journey and the adult roles the boys must prematurely assume. After their arrival in Ethiopia, they finally feel safe until the was inches closer and they must again flee--this time to Kenya.
Very well written with great illustrations. I remember reading about Williams (Jane Fonda's daughter) in What is the What. The stories are quite similar--but this is definitely more child-friendly (as it should be). Williams does a good job of showing the dangers and hardships that the boys faced without dwelling on death. She explains the situation clearly and is a great book that can begin to teach children about the world around us. Although I wish the subject matter had no reason to exist, I'm glad this book was written.
Very well written with great illustrations. I remember reading about Williams (Jane Fonda's daughter) in What is the What. The stories are quite similar--but this is definitely more child-friendly (as it should be). Williams does a good job of showing the dangers and hardships that the boys faced without dwelling on death. She explains the situation clearly and is a great book that can begin to teach children about the world around us. Although I wish the subject matter had no reason to exist, I'm glad this book was written.
ama_reads's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. The text is wonderful. The illustrations are good but not a style that appeals to my tastes.
mlottermoser's review against another edition
4.0
Due to a long civil war many young Sudanese boys lose their entire communities while they are out tending herds and hunting. A thousand boys that range in age from 5-15 had no help or guidance. These brave boys formed companies of 35 boys who looked after and cared for one another. After a long and arduous walk they settle into a refugee camp in Ethiopia before being sent back to the Sudan when another war starts. These brave boys walk back to the Sudan and then on to Kenya. This book is a story of their journey, their hope, and their determination to have a better life.
munchin's review against another edition
5.0
The drawings are highly unconventional but vivid and quite beautiful. I really liked how the boys are drawn to appear much older than they actually are. The story itself is quite sad but also uplifting and touching. And informative. It really made me interested in the issue which is certainly one of the things the book strives for.
wordnerd153's review against another edition
3.0
Inspiring and informative, but very text heavy, so a better fit for upper elementary. The illustrations could’ve complemented the text better.
24hourlibrary's review against another edition
3.0
For older grade school children, Brothers in Hope is an excellent introduction to the Lost Boys of Sudan. Williams strikes a good balance between depicting the horrors the boys faced without providing overwhelming or overly-upsetting detail for children. The prose is descriptive and dense on each page, and might work well in a classroom or in a one-on-one situation, but would not be suitable for storytime. Illustrations were not to my tastes at all -- in fact, I found them a little scary, with detailed and enlarged facial details on impressionist-esque bodies and simplified backdrops.
emitche's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
3.75
Being based on true events, this story is as inspiring as it is heartbreaking. One thing that I really enjoyed about this book is the illustrations. The paintings in earth tones really give the reader a realistic sense of the setting, and the darker depictions throughout the book represent the pain and hardships that these boys went through. One thing that I also really like about the illustrations is the way that we see the main character, Garang, grow from a young boy into a young man. I feel that time is represented well in this book. I feel that it is so important for people to hear about and empathize with true events, regardless of age. I feel that this book gives readers a great opportunity to do just that.
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