Welcome to Litsy!

Starting this today. It‘s different for me but it has good ratings. Here goes!

Aine Kamara is on the brink of adulthood, preparing for her university exams—a time that should be filled with hope and ambition. But in modern Uganda, where shifting religious ideologies clash with personal identity, Aine is forced to question where she truly belongs.And in those moments, I found myself thinking—just as Achen does—Why must someone abandon their home, so rich in heritage and joy, simply because of who they love?

“Shoshana Nambi‘s narrative includes universal themes of community and belonging with the unique cultural traditions of Ugandan Judaism. Set against Uganda‘s picturesque geographical backdrop, this story authentically portrays the Abayudaya community, challenging conventional perceptions of Jewish identity and emphasizing the diversity within global Judaism.“ Read the full review here: https://wowlit.org/on-line-publications/review/xvii-1/10/

3⭐️s

Read for #readtheworld2025

Memoir about a man‘s life in Kenya. I found it interesting and very specific to Wainaina‘s life. A mix of coming of age and details of how he became a writer.

#kenya

Before reading this one check the content warnings. This is a historical fiction about children who are turned into soldiers.

"This is how we do it in Italy. This is how we do it in Japan."

This book is great for teaching about cultural diversity and global citizenship. Students can compare their own daily routines with those of children in other countries.

This book takes readers on a journey to see how children from different countries live their everyday lives. It highlights the cultural differences and similarities that make our world fascinating and diverse.

This was a fairly harrowing read about child soldiers in Uganda, adapted from the writer's YA book of the same name. While it's a fictionalised account, it's closely researched and endorsed by Amnesty International.
The circumstances of the book are realistic, and the Lord's Resistance Army headed by Joseph Kony continues its terrorist campaign to establish a Christianist state using kidnapped children as hostages and soldiers 🙁 Powerful 4⭐

I will never forget this story. Anthony and Florence (Betty) will stay with me forever. Before reading this book, I had never heard of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA). I also wasn‘t aware of kidnapped child soldiers who were made to fight for the LRA. This book brought me to tears a few times as I read. The authors note at the end was very informative. God bless the children who had to endure the horrors described in this book.