923 reviews for:

The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After

Clemantine Wamariya, Elizabeth Weil

4.25 AVERAGE

caitlyn888's review against another edition

4.0

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This is a remarkable story, and I just wish it had been told in sequential order.

But really, how are you supposed to rate someone's personal account of surviving war, sickness, and famine?

jcpdiesel21's review against another edition

3.0

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There's no doubt that Wamariya's journey has been challenging and incredible, and I appreciate the searing emotional rawness in which it is told. However, the chosen presentation made engaging with the material very difficult at times. I would have preferred it if the story had been told in a linear fashion rather than jumping back and forth in time; there needed to be no narrative tricks at play here for the tale to make an impact. Upon seeing the timeline at the beginning of each chapter, I often had to remind myself of where in time I was with regard to Wamariya's life, which became frustrating. This is a vital refugee story that deserves to be told, but I wish the end result had been stronger.

Thanks to the First to Read program for providing me with an ARC of this title.

highladyofthedaycourt's review against another edition

5.0

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**Warning: this text may contain spoilers**
"Everything is yours, everything is not yours."
Clementine's testament of the depravity she witnessed for the seven years she and her family refuged all across central africa.

Harrowing, heartfelt, mesmerizing, but most of all truthful and real. No sugar coating.

It was hard to read but it was amazing st the same time. I makes yoi realize how good you have it, and how no matter what happens, things could be worse.

along500's review against another edition

3.0

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I never feel that it's appropriate to "rate" somebody else's story. I did have a really hard time following this story, though, and just didn't take much away from it unfortunately.

karimorton33's review against another edition

5.0

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I think this is one of the best books I’ve ever read. The story drew me in immediately, and the way that Clementine shared it was unlike anything I’ve read. Her way of writing and describing things is heartbreaking and jaw-dropping.

easytocrash's review against another edition

5.0

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

zamyatins_fears's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

loosealbluth's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

albertsarason's review against another edition

4.0

emotional inspiring medium-paced

keyareuh's review against another edition

4.75

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced