Walking Home

Walking HomeThirteen-year-old Muchoki and his seven-year-old sister Jata lived, attended school, and played in their bustling Kenyan village until political violence broke out in 2007. Their father was killed, their village was destroyed, and they were forced to move into an overcrowded refugee camp with their ailing mother. When their mother died, they set off on what seemed like an impossible journey over 150 kilometers of Kenyan wilderness and slums to find their grandparents they had never met. It was a dangerous journey for the loveable and brave siblings. Tribal fighting, wild animals, and finding food and shelter were some of the obstacles they faced. The interesting overview of the cultural, political, and geographical landscape of Kenya in this story is filled with determination, charity, and faith. The author walked the same route himself from Mara, up the Rift Valley, down to Nairobi, through Kibera, along the Mombasa highway, to the mountains of Kikima. The author’s website www.ericwalterswalkinghome.com brings Jata and Muchoki’s trek alive. There are symbols throughout the book indicating when readers might want to access the site’s special features, such as pictures, maps, videos, songs, and readings. Proceeds from the book go to the Creation of Hope, an organization that helps provide for orphans in Kenya. mjw
Title: Walking Home
Author: Eric Walters
Publisher
: Doubleday Canada
Copyright
: 2014
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0385-68157-5
Paperback pages
: 304
Age range
: 10 up
Genre
: Fiction
Book setting
: Kenya
Author’s ethnicity
: Canadian
Author’s residence
: Ontario, Canada
Awards
: 2013 Children’s Africana Book Award
Subjects
: Brothers and sisters, Kenya, Nairobi, Orphans, Political violence, Refugees, Survival

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