My Name Is Tani...and I Believe in Miracles

The Amazing True Story of One Boy’s Journey from Refugee to Chess Champion

By: Tanitoluwa Adewumi, Kayode Adewumi, Oluwatoyin Adewumi, Craig Borlase

Narrated by: Ronnie Butler, Rhett Price, Siiri Scott

Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Every few years the story of an extraordinary child captures the imagination of the world and changes the way we think about ourselves and the world around us. In 2008, it was Ishmael Beah’s story of his life as a child soldier in Sierra Leone, A Long Way Gone. In 2013, it was Malala Yousafzai’s story of risking her life to pursue her education in her native Pakistan. Now meet Tani Adewumi.

Tani Adewumi didn’t know what Boko Haram was or why they had threatened his family. All he knew was that when his parents told him the family was going to America, Tani thought it was the start of a great adventure rather than an escape. In truth, his family’s journey to the United States was nothing short of miraculous - and the miracles were just beginning.

Tani’s father, Kayode, became a dishwasher and Uber driver while Tani’s mother, Oluwatoyin, cleaned buildings, while the family lived in a homeless shelter. Eight-year-old Tani jumped into his new life with courage and perseverance - and an unusual mind for chess. After joining the chess club in his public school, Tani practiced his game for hours in the evenings at the shelter. Then he began competing in the ultra-exclusive chess clubs of New York City. And winning - again and again. And then, less than a year after he learned to play, Tani won the New York State chess championship.

In My Name Is Tani...and I Believe in Miracles, Tani and his parents tell us their incredible true story of sacrificing everything for family, living with nothing but hope, and then sharing generously all they received to discover the greatest riches of all. Tani’s triumphant spirit reminds us of the power of kindness and the beauty of unity as we watch for the next miracle to begin.

Bring the story to life with photos included in the audiobook companion PDF download.

©2020 Tani Adewumi (P)2020 Thomas Nelson

I could not put this book down!

Having a daughter who, at four years old, discovered the joy of chess, I had to purchase and listen to this book. It did not disappoint! What an absolutely incredible journey this family was on to be able to simply survive while simultaneously supporting their son’s love of the game of chess. I love how the family members read their own parts, pulling the reader in close. I felt like I was on their journey with them. I cannot wait for my now 11-year-old daughter to read this book.

America from the eyes of immigrants through chess

Awesome reality! Awesome recant! America listen up ... pawns working together can do amazing things.

Reymen

As an immigrant an chess player I identified with the story and carachters . The excitement of the chess tournaments rang close to home and I thoroughly enjoyed the story and experience. The thoughts of the father and mother are true to an immigrants personal experience.

A true story about much more than chess

Tani is a very talented chess player who is blessed in many ways. I was mostly impressed more by the incredible love and sacrifice his parents made which contributed to his success.