Cry of the Giraffe
Description
In the early 1980s, thousands of Ethiopian Jews fled the civil unrest, famine and religious persecution of their native land in the hopes of being reunited in Yerusalem, their spiritual homeland, with its promises of a better life.
Wuditu and her family risk their lives to make this journey, which leads them to a refugee camp in Sudan, where they are separated. Terrified, 15-year-old Wuditu must return to Ethiopia alone. 鈥淒on鈥檛 give up, Wuditu! Be strong!鈥� The words of her little sister come to Wuditu in a dream and give her the courage to keep going. Wuditu must find someone to give her food and shelter or she will surely die. Finally Wuditu is offered a solution: working as a servant. However, she quickly realizes that she has become a slave. With nowhere else to go, she stays鈥攗ntil the villagers discover that she is a falasha, a hated Jew. Only her dream of one day being reunited with her family gives her strength鈥攗ntil the arrival of a stranger heralds hope and a new life in Israel.
Based on real events, Wuditu鈥檚 story mirrors the experiences of thousands of Ethiopian Jews.
Awards
- Commended, Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Teens 2010
- Commended, Amelia Bloomer Project List, ALA 2010
- Commended, YALSA Hidden Gems 2010
- Winner, Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Jewish Book Award 2010
- Commended, White Ravens Collection, International Youth Library, Munich 2010
- Commended, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children鈥檚 Book Centre 2010
- Commended, USBBY Outstanding International Books Honor List 2010
Reviews
鈥淭he story . . . is extremely well told with a clear voice that is occasionally heartbreaking in its ability to create proximity while maintaining distance.鈥�
- Resource Links, 12/10
鈥淎 compelling novel . . . left me longing to read more. Highly recommended.鈥�
- CM Reviews, 10/10
鈥淪hows with brutal, unflinching detail the horrors of refugee life and child slavery and the shocking vulnerability of young females in the developing world.鈥�
- Booklist Online, 10/21/10
鈥淭his is an example of masterful storytelling . . . Readers learn a great deal about Ethiopia while they are caught up in a riveting story.鈥�
- School Library Journal, 12/10
鈥淥ron unfolds Wuditu鈥檚 harrowing story with a journalist鈥檚 eye for memorable details and unforgettable situations.鈥�
- American Jewish Libraries Newsletter, 11/10
鈥淧aints indelible images on the brain and calls attention to the reality of child slavery, while spotlighting a proud moment in Israeli history.鈥�
- Chronicle Herald (Halifax), 01/30/11
鈥淭eens will find [the story] compelling and understand Wuditu鈥檚 feelings, hopes and dreams that are so similar to their own. It will engage students as they grapple with issues of human rights, displaced peoples, social justice and activism.鈥�
- Professionally Speaking, 03/11
鈥淎mazing and harrowing. This book is suspenseful and worth reading.鈥�
- Jewish Book World, Spring/11
鈥淭his is an astonishing and intensely moving book about an Ethiopian Jewish girl attempting to make her way to Israel . . . What makes this especially moving is that it is based on a true story.鈥�
- Amelia Bloomer Project鈥檚 List of Recommended Books
鈥淎n interesting account of a group that most have never heard of, let alone their plight.鈥�
- Library Media Connection, 05/11