Customer Reviews

They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan

5 star:		(80)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In a land where family life was everything and the most fearsome thing was a prowling hyena or lion, fire suddenly exploded from the sky. THEY POURED FIRE ON US FROM THE SKY is the vivid description of the war in southern Sudan as seen through the eyes of three little boys, Benson, Benjamin and Alephonsion - who suddenly became homeless orphans and were forced to trek across Sudan to Kenya and Ethiopia without food or water. No longer having a father to frighten away the animals or a mother to prepare food, these five-year-old boys had to figure out how to survive. In addition to the horrors brought on by nature in the form of heat, no water, no food, hunting animals, biting snakes and insects, they soon discovered that people were not very nice to boys traveling alone. Frequently their food, clothing and blankets were taken from them or they were beaten and driven away. Even their own soldiers mistreated them and they found that after surviving so much and traveling so far, they were not exactly welcome in Kenya or Ethiopia. But survive they did to come to the United States to begin life anew.

This gut-wrenching book is a real page-turner and I found myself unable to put it down, even when the stories brought tears and indescribable anger. It was a real eye-opener to read of United Nations aid gone astray as locals took the best for themselves and left the refugees starving. There were, of course, the good people who helped the refugees with food and transportation and even lost their jobs because of it. If you never believed that war could change ordinary people into selfish monsters, then this is the book for you. The book is well written, flows well, and the transitions are so smooth that sometimes I found myself going back to the beginning of the chapter to see which lost boy was telling this particular portion of the story. There were amusing sections such as when the boys were preparing to go the US and they were attempting to learn about flushing toilets. One of them didn't remember what the book instructions said and managed to flood the restroom at the airport terminal. The things we take for granted get a new life when viewed through these boys' eyes. I recommend this book for everyone in America.

Reviewed by alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

Rarely does a book come along that is so moving and inspirational that it is hard to put down and at the same time thought provoking. "They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky" is told in the unique voice of three young men who overcame and survived obstacles we can hardly imagine. Their mentor wrote a heartfelt introduction and helped to weave this book into a page-turner. But it is not the hardships that you will remember after reading this book, it's their unique views on life, their courage, and their will to survive that will live in your memories for a long time to come.
It is by far the best non-fiction book in print and a must read for all book groups and readers looking for inspiration in a world where atrocities and genocide have become common place.

This is a book that I was afraid would be too painful to read. Most of us will never have the experience that these 3 young men and their "brothers" have had. But it is not about pain and sorrow. It is ultimately about Hope, Family, Education and their faith in God to get them through. This is a book that will surprise you, engage you and enrage you. Thank you , Judy Bernstein and everyone who knew this story needed to be told!

As a former NFL player, I thought I was tough. But when I read what these young boys overcame, it made me appreciate what life is really about. A friend recommended the book and after I started it, I couldn't put it down until I finished it the next morning. Their triumph over all odds is uplifting. After the tragic events of recent days, this is a must read for all to learn about the strength of the human spirit.

I found this to be a great read. Thoughtful and poignant, I got a sense of what it is to be a small child caught up in the devestation of a country at war. Several times I paused in my reading to take in parts of their story. I was emotionally touched. I was so taken by the book that I read it in two sittings. This is a great book for adults and teens - a personalization of a war in a faraway place written by three young men who now call America home. You will come to care deeply about these three little boys and understand the saying, "When two elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled".

I usually read for fun, just to have a few laughs or to enjoy a good story, and then I put the book down. This book is not like that. It will penetrate your soul and stay with you long after you're done with it. It will change your concept of childhood and innocence. These children did not grow up watching Sesame Street.

The richness of the language, and the sensitiivity with which these boys describe how they survived experiences that would break an adult, just blows me away. And having had the privilege to follow their careers since arriving in America, I am astounded by how far they have come and the wonderful things that they are doing with the precious gift of life they have managed to escape with.

I think that any book club interested in a truly powerful novel should pick this book. There's endless room in it for discussion and interpretation, and I promise you, when you are done reading it you will look at the world with different eyes. There's a discussion guide on their website, by the way, and it's really stimulating.

I can not believe that I knew nothing of the war in Sudan before reading this book. This is something everyone should know. These boys endured so much at such a young age. The book really makes you take a second look at your own perspective on life. It is easy to read; You can put it down and pick it back up again at any time. (Although I doubt you would want to put it down.)

This eye-opening book is truly one that leaves the reader thinking about just how precious life and family are and how strong the will to survive can be. This true story of three boy's lives during this tragic and seemingly impossible situation (that unfortunately still exists today) left me in awe. I was struck by their solid familial bonds, strength of heart, and amazing fortitude to live. Though at times the story is incredibly sad and upsetting, in all it is wonderfully inspirational and a great read for adolescents through adults.

This book is the compilation of remembrances of three boys' travels as they were pushed from their warm beds, loving parents and the only home they'd ever known. --and all under the age of 7!

It is impossible to put down. I skipped meals, lost sleep and while DRIVING HOME from work today, I realized I could never ever complain about event the worst days of my employment ever again.

You just want to take these boys in your arms and tell them you're so sorry for not knowing this was going on....going on today and ever since 1983! Pick up this book and get educated. Your heart will never be the same.

"They Poured fire On Us From The Sky" is a High School classic. This incredible book exposes the horrible face of war through the eyes of children. While most of us have become dulled by the images of horror on TV, always feeling helpless, this wonderful book, through the eyes of these three boys forces you to realize that the human spirit continues to hope despite, torture, rape, starvation and death. That the next stop just might be freedom. What an extraordinary way to help students learn from Alephonsion, Deng and Benjamin, with their clear and insightful languge, the horrific situation in the Sudan is alive.