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The Girl Who Smiled Beads
304 pages, 2019
biographies & memoirs
997 booksIt was 1994, and in 100 days more than 800,000 people would be murdered in Rwanda and millions more displaced. Clementine and her fifteen-year-old sister, Claire, ran and spent the next six years wandering through seven African countries searching for safety--hiding under beds, foraging for food, surviving and fleeing refugee camps, finding unexpected kindness, witnessing unimaginable cruelty.
They did not know whether their parents were alive. At age twelve, Clementine, along with Claire, was granted asylum in the United States--a chance to build a new life. Chicago was disorienting, filled with neon lights, antiseptic smells, and endless concrete. Clementine spoke five languages but almost no English and had barely gone to school.
Many people wanted to help--a family in the North Shore suburbs invited Clemantine to live with them as their daughter. Others saw her only as broken. They thought she needed, and wanted, to be saved.
Clemantine Wamariya's story in The Girl Who Smiled Beads is a testament to human resilience. Despite the horrors she faced during the Rwandan genocide, she managed to survive and thrive. This book encourages us to find strength in our struggles and to never give up, no matter how tough things get.
The Girl Who Smiled Beads shows us the power of storytelling. Wamariya uses her personal narrative to shed light on the atrocities of the Rwandan genocide, making it more relatable and real for readers. It's a reminder that everyone has a story to tell, and these stories can be powerful tools for change.
The book gives us a heartbreaking look into the impact of war on children. Wamariya was just a child when she was forced to flee her home and live as a refugee. Her experiences highlight the urgent need for peace and stability in conflict-ridden areas.
In The Girl Who Smiled Beads, we see Wamariya's struggle to find her identity after her traumatic experiences. She had to reconcile her past with her present, and figure out who she was in a world that had drastically changed. This book encourages us to explore our own identities and to embrace all parts of ourselves.
Wamariya's story teaches us the importance of empathy. It's easy to dismiss events that don't directly affect us, but this book reminds us that we're all connected. By understanding and empathizing with others' experiences, we can become more compassionate and kind individuals.
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A profound exploration of the human ability to persist in the face of unimaginable trauma. Clemantine's story is a powerful testament to the resilience and beauty of the human spirit.
Oprah Winfrey - TV host, philanthropistClemantine's story is a poignant reminder of the power of hope and the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of unimaginable horrors.
Elie Wiesel - Holocaust survivor, authorA powerful, moving memoir about a young woman's journey from war-torn Rwanda to the United States. It's a story of resilience, hope, and the power of storytelling.
Michelle Obama - Former First LadyA remarkable story of resilience and hope. Clemantine's journey from war-torn Rwanda to the United States is a testament to the power of the human spirit.
Bill Gates - Microsoft co-founderClemantine's story is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the power of hope. It's a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.
Malala Yousafzai - Activist, Nobel laureate