How Dare the Sun Rise

Memoirs of a War Child

By: Sandra Uwiringiyimana, Abigail Pesta

Narrated by: Sandra Uwiringiyimana

Junior Library Guild Selection * New York Public Library's Best Books for Teens * Goodreads Choice Awards Nonfiction Finalist * Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best Books for Teens: Nonfiction * 2018 Texas Topaz Nonfiction List * YALSA's 2018 Quick Picks List

"This gut-wrenching, poetic memoir reminds us that no life story can be reduced to the word 'refugee.'" (New York Times Book Review)

"A critical piece of literature, contributing to the larger refugee narrative in a way that is complex and nuanced." (School Library Journal)

This profoundly moving memoir is the remarkable and inspiring true story of Sandra Uwiringiyimana, a girl from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who tells the tale of how she survived a massacre, immigrated to America, and overcame her trauma through art and activism.

Sandra was just 10 years old when she found herself with a gun pointed at her head. She had watched as rebels gunned down her mother and six-year-old sister in a refugee camp. Remarkably, the rebel didn't pull the trigger, and Sandra escaped.

Thus began a new life for her and her surviving family members. With no home and no money, they struggled to stay alive. Eventually, through a United Nations refugee program, they moved to America, only to face yet another ethnic disconnect. Sandra may have crossed an ocean, but there was now a much wider divide she had to overcome. And it started with middle school in New York.

In this memoir, Sandra tells the story of her survival, of finding her place in a new country, of her hope for the future, and how she found a way to give voice to her people.

©2017 Sandra Uwiringiyimana (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

informative

Loved this book. It helps to give a just a tiny window into another culture.

Timely Child Memoir on Immigration

Would you listen to How Dare the Sun Rise again? Why?

Absolutely, I know I will. It was a remarkable story of resilience in such a young child. I can't fathom what it's like to grow up in a place where war is the norm.

What was one of the most memorable moments of How Dare the Sun Rise?

I love how she went away to find her own voice. We can teach our children lessons non-stop but there's a point where they need to start listening to their own voices.

Which character – as performed by Sandra Uwiringiyimana – was your favorite?

I loved her Mom because I can relate to her in that she always wanted the best for her child, though she didn't always know what that was.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I did listen to it in one sitting. It's easy to get wrapped up in. I wanted to know how it ended.

Memoir of the Year

I was absolutely hooked to this audio from the very first sentence. Sandra's message of love overcoming fear is inspiring and a wonderful dedication to the sister she lost. Highly recommended!

Great Read!

The narrator was clear and added so much to the book. The message behind the book spoke truth. Great book for a group to discuss.

A very powerful telling of our need to treat others as we would want to be treated

The US is far from perfect, we all know that. As an immigrant myself, I could not connect with all the authors criticisms of the US. The food? The weight of average Americans? Our reliance on car usage? The very private nature of neighborhoods? Bottom line, as imperfect as we are, did the US afford this family respite? Safety? An education? Balance it all please. Sounds a tad bit harsh and ungrateful

Important read

Sandra’s voice and accent are beautiful. It was heart wrenching but helpful to see how a family navigated such intense trauma. It’s also a great way to gain perspective on how to respond to the refugee crisis in the world.

I also felt like this book needs a part 2 in another 10 years. It’s clear that Sandra’s work is not finished and, in some ways just starting. She is also still working toward finding forgiveness in her quest for justice. I would love to read more should she ever write a second book.

Incredibly touching and thought provoking

A raw and unfiltered account of the life of a Tutsi family living in the DR of Congo. Incredibly touching and thought provoking, and very well written and narrated by the author. I “read” it in one day.

Heart warming

Sandra’s story gave me a mix of emotions. I was shocked and deeply sad for all the pain she went through. The loss of her lil lister really touched my heart. Her love for her is so beautiful! This story taught me so much about her culture and her people. It is very inspiring how after all that pain, she had the strength to stand up and raise her voice and speak on behalf of her people, and let the whole world know about what they went through. Sandra is a very brave young woman. Im really glad she shared her story with us. Her voice is so soothing, i highly recommend this book.

Very deep and authentic

Thank you Sandra; your book has inspired me and put me in tears; I was born in the South East of Congo and had so many of my friends who’s ancestors came from Rwanda; I just relived the atrocity that I witnessed from them being targeted... my neighbors, friends, classmates that I’ll never see; all that because someone hated them for no valid reason... thanks for your courage, your bravery. You’re my hero!! May God bless you and your family

Such an important book

Wow. This book was painful, sad, and insightful. I don’t want to give anything away but it was so so good. There is so much pain and suffering in the world, humans doing the most heinous things to other humans. This is one story the world needs to hear. The horrors we (as a species) put children through is monstrous.