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923 reviews for:
The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After
Clemantine Wamariya, Elizabeth Weil
4.25 AVERAGE
923 reviews for:
The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After
Clemantine Wamariya, Elizabeth Weil
4.25 AVERAGE
Horrifically engaging, I finished it in less than 24 hours.
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
In the last 1990s, I was a wee bit obsessed with the story of the Rawandan genocide. I'm not sure how my background knowledge of the event filled in some gaps that were not fully explored (as seen at the time through the eyes of a five year old.) This memoir, written by a survivor who escaped with her sister to spend years bouncing among refugee camps before ending up in the USA by middle school, is about her personal aftermath and her life that can never be righted. Although it was a bit disjointed at times, bouncing around in time, which is always a touch problematic for me as a reader, I was glued to this book. It's a very accessible read about an historical horror.
challenging
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
I won a copy of this book through Goodreads.
This book was one of those difficult to read books, since Wamariya details her and her sister Claire's travels through war torn countries of Africa. But the language is beautiful.
It was an interesting choice to read given what has been in the news recently.
This is one of those books that I want people to read, but I also don't want to tell you too much of the story. I simply want you to enjoy the book as much as I have.
This book was one of those difficult to read books, since Wamariya details her and her sister Claire's travels through war torn countries of Africa. But the language is beautiful.
It was an interesting choice to read given what has been in the news recently.
This is one of those books that I want people to read, but I also don't want to tell you too much of the story. I simply want you to enjoy the book as much as I have.
‘The Girl Who Smiled Beads’ is the incredible, terrible and inspiring story of the Clementine Waymaria’s life. A childhood survivor of the Rwandan genocide, Waymaria and her sister Claire went from refugee camp to refugee camp, lived in seven countries before arriving in Chicago when Clementine was 13, endured more atrocities and suffering than anyone should, and saw even more horrors inflicted on others. There were beatings and rapes, people forced to survive only off maize, terrible illnesses, and a camp crawling with bugs that burrowed into the feet of anyone trying to walk. I am in awe of the strength they showed, particularly her sister, and disgusted at the humanity this world tried to strip away from them – along with so many others. I wish I could make everyone read this book, particularly those who seem unwilling to give today’s refugees understanding and safe harbor. I read this via the audiobook, and the narrator did an excellent job. Please read this book.
This is a tough book for me to review, also on how to
This book moved me greatly. One of my student workers is from Rwanda, and she recommended it. Clementine’s story is so important to read, to recognize the humanity in her story - and the atrocious inhumanity that happens when we stop listening to and recognizing who others are.
This woman is the very definition of strength. I never knew much about refugee life or the Rwandan Genocide, but this book made me feel a tiny tiny fraction of the fear, anger and hurt that these girls must have lived through.