FICTION

Running the Rift

by Naomi Benaron

Algonquin. 2011. 365p. ISBN 9781616200428. $24.95; ebk. ISBN 9781616201876. F

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Jean Patrick Nkuba has a dream: he wants to be the first Rwandan to win an Olympic gold medal. Unfortunately, he has to survive a civil war and genocide to get there. Any book about Rwanda has to mention the 1994 conflict that claimed over 800,000 lives, but this Bellwether Prize-winning debut novel is primarily about a boy with a dream.

VERDICT This marvelous and lyrical book celebrates the inimitable spirit of humanity. (LJ 8/11)

Reviewed by ALA Rusa-Codes , May 15, 2014

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