Naomi Benaron

Spanning the years 1984-1998, this is a bildungsroman of a Rwandan boy, Nbuktu Jean Patrick who aspires to become an Olympic runner. The government is Hutu and there are escalating tensions with the minority population of Tutsi which play out in the fabric of Jean Patrick's life despite his ambitions. Swept up in events beyond his control, Jean Patrick must reconcile his grief, fear, hopes and optimism even as the assassination of the Hutu president becomes the flash point for genocide. Benaron provides a Tutsi protagonist and a details of the atrocities, but there is an odd narrative remove from the events. We hear of the violence; but don't really experience it to any degree and some of it is glossed over in poetic phrasing. It's a solid story but not particularly engaging. Its merits lie in invoking a desire in the reader to learn more about what really happened.… (mer)

Well written and a glimpse into an unknown world - we're taken into the life of a Tutsi young man as he tries to continue his education, become an Olympic caliber runner, and help his family survive during the Hutu uprising and control. The fear and anxiety he feels at all times, even doing the most mundane of things is so well conveyed that I would often feel tense when putting the book down. I always enjoy being transported to another part of the world - even learning about the worst parts of country's history. An emotional and enlightening read.… (mer)