Of Beetles and Angels: A Boy's Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard [Paperback]

Mawi Asgedom (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2002 | Grade Level: 5 and up

Now in a paperback edition, this acclaimed memoir tells the unforgettable story of a young boy's journey from a refugee camp in Sudan to Chicago, where his family survived on welfare. Mawi followed his father's advice to "treat people . . . as though they were angels sent from heaven, " and realized his dream of a full-tuition scholarship to Harvard University. Updated with 14 black-and-white photos and a new epilogue.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1983, at age seven, the author and his family arrived in this country, having fled the Eritrean and Ethiopian conflict. "This earnest account of Asgedom's life up to his graduation from Harvard is peppered with powerful moments," wrote PW. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

When he was four years old, Asgedom's family left their war-ravaged home in Ethiopia. They spent three years in a Sudanese refugee camp before coming to the U.S. in 1983, where they were settled by World Relief in a wealthy white suburb near Chicago. He later earned a full scholarship to Harvard, where in 1999 he delivered the commencement address. His simple lyrical narrative, both wry and tender, stays true to the child's viewpoint as he grows up, taunted at school, but pretty bad and rough himself. His coming-of-age story is both darkened and enriched by the stories he hears about his parents' lives back home and by the pieces he remembers. At the center of the book is his father, a fierce family disciplinarian, once an all-powerful medical assistant at home, now reduced to a "beetle," unemployed, half-blind, raging at his dependency. Only at the very end, when Asgedom spells out the metaphor of the title, does the message overwhelm the story. What stays with you is the quiet, honest drama of a family's heartrending journey. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316826200
• ISBN-13: 978-0316826204
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #217,051 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Africa
  • #15 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Africa
  • #22 in Books > Children's Books > History > Africa

More About the Author

Mawi Asgedom is a refugee from Ethiopia who has spoken to more than one million people and written six bestselling books that have been read in thousands of schools.

Mawi is the founder of Mental Karate, a youth leadership system that is used by educators from Hawaii to Florida.

A graduate of Harvard University, Mawi lives in Illinois with his wife and two kids.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an amazing book!, November 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Of Beetles and Angels (Hardcover)

This is an outstanding story of a young man with great achievements. He takes us through a life of trial survived only by kindness. I was at tears at points throughout this story, and i reccomend this book to anybody who wants to read an amazing epic of a refugee who makes the best of life and graduates and accomplishes great things at harvard. The wide array of emotions that this book drives you to feel all at once, is almost too much to handle at certain climactic points. One of the greatest stories i have read in years, and i recommend this to anyone. This story in fact, reminds me of that great best-selling book The Color of Water.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book of Inspiration and the Beauty of the Human Spirit, December 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Of Beetles and Angels (Hardcover)

This book is a tribute to what can be accomplished with hard work, kindness and generosity. My heart and mind were engaged instantly by his story. I highly recommend this book and I encourage you to purchase a copy not only for yourself but to give as a gift. This is a story you will want to share.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring and motivating, February 13, 2001

By 

"susique" (Wheaton, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Of Beetles and Angels (Hardcover)

The book by Mawi Asgedom is a story of the author's journey from war torn Ethiopia to Harvard University. It is also a story about Mawi's father, Haileab. Haileab was determined to give his children a better life. He could not hand that life to his children and so he motivated and inspired them. He gave up everything-his job, his dignity, his respect, his country, his friends, and more so that his children might have a better life. The impact of this father is visually represented in the book in that all of his words are in capital letters.

My entire family has read this book. We spent several hours discussing it together. Mawi is a great storyteller. He made us laugh and he made us think. I have given at least 15 of Mawi's books to friends and relatives to read. One friend and her husband were so moved by the book that they went and visited the organization, World Relief, in Wheaton, IL to find out what they could do to help refugees. They gave their Christmas bonus to helping several families. Everyone should read this book, adults and children in fourth grade and older, refugees and especially everyone that has contact with people of another culture. I give this excellent, insightful book the highest recommendation.