Customer Reviews

No Room at the Table: Earth's Most Vulnerable Children

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The news media has already informed us of the world's youngest victims of poverty, violence, sexual abuse, and disease, but Fr. Dunson has given these children a personal identity. In each story, from Uganda to El Salvador, we know the children's names, their fear, their struggle, and their resolve. Sometimes there is hope and when it is absent, Fr. Dunson convincingly assures the reader that not only can we make a difference in their lives, but we have an obligation to make that difference.

Fr. Dunson sounds a call to action: "A just, humane, and compassionate world community would never tolerate the massive indifference shown today toward the unnecessary suffering of children. Humanity's real weapons of mass destruction are hunger, preventable disease, and indifference - and these weapons of mass destruction are killing our children as we watch. Ultimately, there is no such thing as other people's children."

While reading the book, BBC News reported over 200 people were massacred in a refugee camp in Uganda. They interviewed a 14 year old boy, Innocent, who witnessed his parents being hacked to death. Three weeks later (3/21/04), BBC did a follow-up on Innocent's life in an orphanage. This news report and No Room at the Table convinced me that I must take greater action. Acts of solidarity with children are offered in the book's conclusion. The last page is a prayer by Archbishop Tutu: Peace for the Children of God.

Donald Dunson has traveled the world and spent time with, reached out to, and listened to the children whose stories he tells in this profoundly moving little book. On these pages we meet children who've had their childhood, their humanity and any sense of their own worth stolen from them, as they are forced find a way to survive in a cruel and uncaring adult world: kidnapped to fight in brutal civil wars, forced to flee for their lives from their own country, fending for themselves in crowded refugee camps, homeless and officially invisible on the streets of Kampala. However, the sorry litany of the inhuman treatment these children have endured is not the end of the story...The real story presented here is the difference that someone caring, paying attention, reaching out and offering hope and encouragement can make to the millions of these children in third world and first world countries. Stolen childhoods and innocence can't be returned, but lives can be given a sense of worth and direction and the hope that we are one family, as has been done in the Kenyan hospice for HIV-positive orphans, Nyumbani, where the children have a wonderful sense of mutual support and community.
I highly recommend this beautiful book, it will touch your heart and your soul.

One would think a book like this would be difficult to read. Just the opposite is true. Although Father Dunson talks about children who suffer greatly he inspires us to help. When you read it you ARE motivated to change society for the better. Even if you are doing it in small ways you are helping. That is his message and he gives it to us plainly. His story telling is intriguing. Father Dunson is one special person. Once you start this book it is hard to put it down. DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!! IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!

I purchased this book with the understanding Good Condition
There is an abundent amount of underlining & writing
in book which was not disclosed
Very disappointed in codition of book

No, I'm not joking. The author uses the plight of the world's children as a basis to sell books and to spend pages on pages grandstanding about his liberal ideals based on his lousy theology. He calls himself a priest (Roman Catholic, I think) so I'd expect a better understanding of Christianity's worldview, but forget it. This book was such tripe that at one point I told myself if he says we must "stand in solidarity" with these kids one more time, I'm tossing this book out... he did and I did. In short, these poor kids' stories are being sold all around the world and nobody benefits but the publisher and the author. If you want a window into the poverty and need in the world, try Grace Akallo's book Girl Soldier and skip this one.