This week I began the memoir of the three Lost Boys of Sudan called They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky. This memoir recounts the experiences of Benson Deng, Alphonsion Deng, and Benjamin Ajak during the 2nd Sudanese Civil War. The two brothers and their cousin were around the age of ten when rebel fighters and the army brought their war into civilian area. The men involved in the crossfire were immediately killed, and many of the women were raped. All who were left were the young boys; many who had no choice but run away. Amidst this conflict, the Deng brothers became separated for many months. Regardless, all struggled in the pilgrimage to Ethiopia from their town in northwest Sudan-an approximate thousands mile distance. Alphonsion survived by sticking with his sister, Benson from companionship, and Benjamin for sticking to Benson. Unfortunately, even after escaping death through guns, starvation, dehydration, and disease plagued the lives of these boys and threatened each and every one of them. Through it all, these three boys were able to escape and survive. The harrowing experiences that the boys so carefully share with us helps establish their credibility as tellers of of war. Their heartfelt intention of honoring their fellow children who were killed by war can be understood in every piece of this book. This memoir also serves as a critical reminder to the adults of war who drag young children into a war that is not theirs and a death they have no choice but to share. All three boys write innocently, accurately telling the tale as young boy would when encountered with such an experience. The limited usage of figurative language and complex diction helped me to further put into perspective the age of the boys when their people were massacred right before their eyes. It strung a chord in my heart and successfully convinced me of the horror behind this thing called war, and to never forget the lives of the lost children.
