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Child of the Jungle: The True Story of a Girl Caught Between Two Worlds

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G.K. Chesterton said, "the things common to all men are more important than the things peculiar to any men." Keugler writes of peculiar circumstances, but the deep, underlying story is one common to all: a deep, unfulfilled (yet) longing for Home. And because she clearly does not (yet) know where to turn to fulfill those longings, the book ends sadly with Sabine still lost: she does not belong in Germany, or among the Fayu, or anywhere. Yet.

But Kuegler's circumstances are familiar to some. I married a `child of the jungle'--same island, same jungle, different tribe. We know some of her places, and the book is especially interesting to us because we (both missionary kids) share some of her memories: jungles, multilingualism, cannibals, crocodiles, insects, intimate friendships with `natives,' helicopters, wars, boarding schools, and a traumatic transition to being westerners lost in the West--a poignant combination of comedy and tragedy.

Kuegler's childhood, like that of many `third culture kids,' was lived in snippets--little chunks of interrupted time (like her 2-4 page chapters): a few weeks or months in the village, then a trip `out' to Jayapura, then back to the village, then a semester at boarding school, then back to the village for Christmas vacation. Her book of short chapters is a skillfully interwoven (not disconnected), almost impressionistic, collection of topics and incidents.

The second half of Kuegler's book is pierced by a wistful, powerful `Sehnsucht' (a German word she does not use)--a deep longing for something she has difficulty describing, or even identifying. As she writes of death, of separation from family and Fayu friends, of feeling misfit among her `own kind,' readers can sense her longing to belong. She mourns paradise lost and fears there is none to be regained. In "Surprised by Joy," C. S. Lewis' life is also pervaded by this Sehnsucht, and then by the joy of its fulfillment. Kuegler, hopefully, will (like Lewis and Chesterton) look again to the `good Spirit' she briefly mentions in chapters 3, 30, and 45. This longing is His gift to prod us into finding our Home (Heb. 11:13-16). I hope then to read a more joyful sequel to Kuegler's delightful first book.

A fascinating autobiography of Sabine Kuegler, who in 1980, when she was seven, accompanied her missionary parents to Irian Jaya (the Indonesian part of the Island of New Guinea) to live with the Fayu, a previously uncontacted tribe, living in the Stone Age (and by Stone Age, I refer to the Fayu technology, withholding any value judgement). Despite the difficult living conditions, she felt immediately at home with the Fayu, and she provides a fascinating account of their lives (and her life with them). Kuegler's parents, at the same time, gradually taught the Fayu to live peacefully, breaking the cycle of revenge and murder that has ruled their behavior for centuries, causing the Fayu to live in constant fear. Sabine fit in so well to life on the New Guinea jungle, that she felt totally confused and out of her element when she returned to Europe, at 17. Living initially in a boarding school in Switzerland, her culture shock manifested itself in having in a short time a baby out of wedlock, married, divorced, sank into depression and attempted suicide. At the end of the book, she has sort of settled in, though she never forgets what she sees as her idyllic years in the jungle. All in all, a fascinating book. By the way, Sabine's parents appears unnamed (as "a courageous husband and wife missionary couple") in Jared Diamond's book "Gun, Germs and Steel", at the beginning of the chapter From Egalitarianism to Kleptocracy.

Sabine Kuegler's memoir is probably the best biography I have ever read. This is an outstanding book about a life most westerners would find unimaginable. After finishing this wonderful life story, I doubt that I will ever forget this incredible woman.

Sabine Kuegler was only five years old when her German parents moved her and her siblings to the wild jungle rainforest of West Papua, which is the other half of Papua New Guinea in Indonesia. Her parents were missionary/anthropologists who had a goal to live amongst the newly found lost tribe of the Fayu natives. To be a part of their daily lives and jungle community, to learn their language and culture, and to assist them in an eventual integration with the western world without losing their land, their heritage and people, was their new mission. As Sabine was just a toddler when she arrived there from Nepal where her parents had their last assignment, she was raised with the Fayu children and became a true child of the jungle. The family lived in a screen enclosed hut, ate insects, bats, crocodile, and wild boar along with the staples of rice and sago which is a floury paste substance derived from palm trees. She became a Fayu child, a hunter-gatherer, prowled the rainforest naked, learned to hunt with bow and arrow, climbed trees to escape dangerous animals, lived in total wonder of the natural world around her, and acquired an incredible knowledge of the flora and fauna beneath the treetop canopy. A lover of animals, she collected a menagerie of pets such as spiders the size of dinner plates, parrots, mini-kangaroos, cats, bats, birds, lizards and whatever else crawled into her path. A brave and vivacious young girl, she took the hardships of jungle survival in stride and turned her trials and tribulations into experiences of wonders to behold. Facing flash floods, intense tropical heat, bug infestations, malaria and other medical challenges, Sabine was the love of her family and became the chosen child of the Fayu who grew to love her as their own.

Learning about the marvels of the rainforest and the incredibly interesting culture of the Fayu tribe was insightful, enlightening and fascinating. They are a loving people now, but previous to the admittance of the Kuegler family, they were a tribe of vicious warring people on the brink of extinction due to constant inner tribal conflicts leading to extreme mortality rates. Sabine's father became a brother to the Fayu, and while integrating himself into their lives he learned their complicated language, survival tactics, centuries of legends, and was taught to respect their jungle politics and ceremonies. This enabled them to trust him, which in turn allowed them to eventually learn ways of diplomacy and peace that would settle their differences with love and forgiveness.

The Kuegler family lived amongst the Fayu for many years. Sabine and her siblings stayed until they became college age where at that time, they were then shipped off to various European and American colleges. These teenagers needed to literally learn how to be civilized city folk in the western world. However, for Sabine, this was too much to bear. After tragedy had struck her life when a Fayu brother died of Tuberculosis, she felt she could no longer live the jungle life and accepted the offer to attend a boarding school in Switzerland. Sabine's story from that point on was the most challenging part of her life. She painfully soon became confused, depressed, and traumatized. This innocent naïve nature child had never seen a telephone, a computer, a stereo, a television, automobiles, grocery stores, money, nor any of the everyday items we westerners in the modern world have taken for granted our entire lives. She became paralyzed, afraid to cross the street into traffic, shook in fear of her ignorance of the world and became haunted as to where she truly belonged.

Her writings of the college days are at times hilarious to the point where the reader is belly-laughing out loud, but at times you will also find yourself wiping the tears from your eyes as she becomes heartbreakingly suicidal as she struggles to belong. I have never been so entranced by a personal story as this, and felt deeply moved by reading about her amazing life filled with ups and downs. I promise you readers, that Child of the Jungle will be the most extraordinary book you will have come across in decades. This story is perfect for all readers in monthly book club discussion groups and a book you will be passing around to so many friends you might not get it back! This memoir deserves awards, international recognition, and more stars I'm allowed to give it. Standing ovation..clap clap clap!!!

This book builds a bridge between two worlds and two cultures that are so far apart. Sabine Kuegler and her family went into the world of the Fayu, a tribal people who still lived in the stone age. These people lived by the law of brutal vengence and killing. They lived in daily fear as war and death were everpresent realities for them. The Kuegler family lived among them, learned from them, and taught them by example. Over the years they had a powerful and lasting impact on the Fayu.

Sabine Kuegler has successfully opened a window for us, allowing us a glimpse into the lives of the Fayu men, women, and children who have the same needs, fears, hopes, and dreams as we all have. She writes with great respect, love, and affection about a people who came to accept and love her family as their own. Over the years through the faith, work and life of the Kueglers the Fayu found that peace and forgiveness were possible and that such a life led to great improvements in their lives.

This book also challenges us to look at our western culture. We strive for progress and consider ourselves an advanced society with humane solutions to our dilemas. We treasure our physical comforts and possessions, but the emotional health of men, women, and children are a much greater challenge in our civilization than among the Fayu, whose lives are physically very hard but emotionally more whole.

My parents are friends of Sabine's, and I grew up hearing tales of the Fayu people. I awaited this book with great anticipation. It did not let me down-- it was WELL worth the read! You will love this book!!

At the age of Seven Sabine Krueger lands in New Guinea (Indonesia) with her parents, her sister and her brother.
Her parents studied a tribe that is still living in the Stone Age for 10 years, The Fayous, whose territories is located in the "Lost valley". Where Sabine discovers the jungle and where she learns to hunt, to climb trees, to swim in rivers where crocodiles and snakes are common sights. She knows how to kill her pray with her bow and arrows and light up a fire without matches. She loves crocodile meat. Instead of French fries she eats insects and chews on bats wings in place of chewing gums. She learns how nature can be unforgiving she discovers violence and hatred. But in a tribe that used to practice cannibalism and where any crime is punished by death, the children of the tribe are fast becoming sisters and brothers of Sabine and her siblings' extended family.
Until the age of seventeen she knows no car, no television, and no malls. She knows no colors other than the ones in the jungle. Nature is her playground, the jungle is her country, and the sky is her roof. The "Lost valley" is her real country.
Today, a young woman speaking several languages fluently and after several years living in Europe her soul is still pulled apart between those two worlds. Sabine knows she will have to return to her real world, a world which for the majority of us cannot even exist.
"Jungle child" is the fascinating and moving testimony of a unique experience.
1/2 millions people bought this book...

This book was really interesting to me. It gives you a glimpse of a different world and how some white people adapted to the tribe and how the tribe adapted to the white peoples ways. The author's stuggle to go back into the European culture just shows that we get engrained in our own ways and don't always open our eyes to different viewpoints. I loved this book and would highly recommend it.

A truly beautiful book, that raises fundamental questions about the meaning of life, and provides a couple of answers too... between the lines. It was so captivating that I read it in two hours on the train between London and Paris today.
I only have one problem: Sabine Kügler is obviously beautiful too, and I sincerely hope that she will not become a star. It would ruin the story and turn her into some Tarzan of the 21st century.
Always remember Ohri, Sabine.
A must read.

i've seen an interview on Tv with Sabine Kuegler,and the book got me interested.So next day On my birthday,my sister gave it to me.I couldnt put it down until fully read,the most exciting book in a long time i've read.Lots of laughter and tears.very moving.Did you know that this book is translated in 19 languages around the world??
So i would recommend You buy it too!!!
Aniko

This was an amazing journey to share. I enjoyed learning more about another world... When I was a child I remember meeting missionaries who had returned from Papua and showed finger necklaces (cut off during mourning). Different from the Fayu's practices, though relatively close. I was filled with joy at Sabine's adventures and exciting stories, and filled with sadness as she lost friends.

I'm looking forward to the translation of the next book, as this one did seem to end abruptly... but it's definitely an eye opening experience and there is much to be learned from it though it's a very fast read.

I'm saddened that her introduction into the western world wasn't the loving and caring one it should have been- I hope she's finding peace and joy in her life now.