Let's Go Swimming on Doomsday

By: Natalie C. Anderson

Narrated by: Kevin R. Free, Natalie C. Anderson

Length: 13 hrs

Publisher's summary

Forced to become a child soldier, a 16-year-old Somali refugee must confront his painful past in this haunting, thrilling tale of loss and redemption for fans of A Long Way Gone and What Is the What.

When Abdi's family is kidnapped, he's forced to do the unthinkable: become a child soldier with the ruthless jihadi group Al Shabaab. In order to save the lives of those he loves and earn their freedom, Abdi agrees to be embedded as a spy within the militia's ranks and to send dispatches on their plans to the Americans. The jihadists trust Abdi immediately because his older brother, Dahir, is already one of them, protégé to General Idris, aka the Butcher. If Abdi's duplicity is discovered, he will be killed.

For weeks, Abdi trains with them, witnessing atrocity after atrocity, becoming a monster himself, wondering if he's even pretending anymore. He only escapes after he is forced into a suicide bomber's vest, which still leaves him stumps where two of his fingers used to be and his brother near death. Eventually, he finds himself on the streets of Sangui City, Kenya, stealing what he can find to get by, sleeping nights in empty alleyways, wondering what's become of the family that was stolen from him. But everything changes when Abdi's picked up for a petty theft, which sets into motion a chain reaction that forces him to reckon with a past he's been trying to forget.

In this riveting, unflinching tale of sacrifice and hope, critically acclaimed author Natalie C. Anderson delivers another tour de force that will leave listeners at the edge of their seats.

©2019 Natalie C. Anderson (P)2019 Listening Library

Critic reviews

Indies Next Kids List – Winter 2018-2019
A North Star YA Book Award 2019 List Pick

“Narrator Kevin R. Free breathes dramatic urgency into Anderson's intense story…Listeners hear and feel Abdi's horror and numb, helpless despair at the atrocities he witnesses—and perpetrates—and we rejoice at his redemption.”—AudioFile, Earphones Award Winner"

★ “Anderson...breathe[s] ferocious life into a story that needs to be told. This is one of those tough but invaluable books with the power to increase a reader's awareness of and empathy for teens who have lost the right to be young.”—Booklist, starred review

“An intriguing examination of ways familial loyalty and guilt can lead anyone to make desperate choices. Anderson uses the exploration of manipulation and coercion to craft a thought-provoking narrative.”—School Library Journal

Raw

this story is so incredibly wrong but at times it became hard to read. it felt that no matter how bad I thought the current situation was it only got worse. I was in on a complete Whirlwind of emotions, I felt everything from anger to sadness to what may even have been despair. my heart ached for Muna, for Bashir, for Dhair, and it especially bled for Abdi. it hurt to know that even though this was a work of fiction this could very well be close to someone's true story. the experience was eye-opening, it was heartbreaking, and it showed but even in the darkest times we can find light. I will admit the story made me cry but it also made me laugh. I enjoyed it so much. I think this book is perfect for anyone who wants to experience something life-changing even if you only have to turn the page or listen to the story.