Father of the Lost Boys for Younger Readers

Once, there was a man who rescued 20,000 boys from almost certain death. That man was my father. One of those boys was me. This is our story.

During the Second Sudanese Civil War, thousands of boys were displaced or orphaned. In 1989, Mecak Ajang Alaak led the Lost Boys on a four-year journey from Ethiopia to Kenya to protect them from becoming child soldiers. This is the abridged account of that extraordinary true story.

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

‘This book opens our eyes to what many refugees face and why they seek asylum. Yuot now lives in Australia and his enduring spirit continues to inspire us to this day. This should be required reading for all high schoolers.’ Good Reading Magazine

‘This is one of the most remarkable stories you are ever likely to read. And yet, it is a story that is true of tens of thousands of other children and their families in a world riven by wars and hunger.’ Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA)

‘The book serves as an educational resource that introduces young readers to important topics such as refugee experiences, cultural diversity, and global citizenship.’ Better Reading

‘Like the diary of Anne Frank, it is important that books that tell the true story of genocide are made available and studied by students everywhere so that they understand the fragility of our world, their current relative safety as opposed to many children elsewhere in the world, and the need to be informed and educated so that it does not happen again.’ ReadPlus

‘Readers will develop a deeper understanding of what South Sudanese refugees experienced, their history of sacrifice and determiniation, to build the Republic of South Sudan … This is an important story.’ Magpies

‘Father of the Lost Boys stands out as a remarkable story of resilience, love, and the enduring human spirit in the face of unimaginable challenges.’ Books+Publishing

‘This memoir is a life-affirming story which proves yet again that so many refugees have courage and initiative that – quite apart from any humanitarian motives – show how much the fortunate West has to gain in opening its doors.’ ANZ LitLovers

‘… this is not a story of sadness, but of a family’s triumph; of love, loyalty and choosing the power of the pen over the power of the gun.’ Sydney Morning Herald

‘… it is a jaw-dropping memoir, punctuated by inconceivable tragedy but underpinned throughout by the powerful hope that kept them moving.’ Weekend West

‘Reading Father of the Lost Boys gives the opportunity to teach empathy and compassion for refugees and displaced persons. A real eye opener for children to see what children in other countries deal with and how they work together and still manage to find joy in the simplest things in life.’ Little Squirrel’s Bookshelf

‘It’s a gripping and powerful history that deserves to be widely shared. If you are in a school that counts Sudanese students among your population, I would suggest this as a significant addition to reading lists. In my draft of teaching notes, I included a lot more material than was needed so have included both the published version and the draft for your use – these can be found on the Freebies page as well. This really is a powerful addition to any classroom unit on displaced persons, conflicts, modern history or cultural differences.’ Losangzopa Blog