Father of the Lost Boys is the young adult edition of the book of the same name.

Yuot’s father was determined from a young age to make something of himself. He succeeded in becoming a well-respected teacher, school principal and community leader. Yuot is a young boy when the effects of the second Sudanese Civil War changed his way of life forever.

As the army swept across the country his father returned to save the thousands of boys from being conscripted into being child soldiers. Yuot’s father gathered over 20 000 boys and organised to walk them thousands of kilometres to the relative safety of Kenya.

This is Yuot’s true story of their journey which would take four years. The organisation and skills required to simply move these children as safely as they could was an incredible feat. There were jungles with predators such as lions, mud and insects, starvation and dehydration. And there were bombs and an army on their tail.

Throughout the journey, Yuot’s love for his father, family and his country remained strong. His acceptance and determination to keep going in the face of shocking times never wavered. His father was always a calm presence for the teachers who travelled with them and the many thousands of boys. What he achieved is simply unfathomable.

This book opens our eyes to what many refugees face and why they seek asylum. Yuot now lives in Australia and his enduring spirit continues to inspire us to this day. This should be required reading for all high schoolers.

Reviewed by Jane Stephens

Age Guide 12+