15 November 2010

Of Beetles and Angels by Mawi Asgedom

Another great addition to my growing non-fiction repertoire. Of Beetles and Angels is the author's account of his transition from a refugee camp in Sudan as  young boy to eventual Harvard graduate and full-tuition scholarship recipient.  The author's tone flows easily and reads like a letter from a friend.  He remains accessible and engaging despite the tough issues his experience inherently encounters without discounting the struggles or depressing the reader.  Like Mawi, the reader finds ways to remain hopeful through the tougher stuff.  Through the stern reminders, stories, and lectures of his father, the shining example of his older brother, his mother's remembrances of home, and his own determination, Mawi is truly a force to be reckoned with in his Chicago community.  Don't be mistaken - Mawi and his family are not perfect.  They are a great example, though, of the power behind hope, faith, and determination presented in a way that I believe would be interested even to disinterested readers.