Story by Jessica Dudenhofer, Daily News staff writer
Nearly every seat was filled in the Greenville High School Performing Arts Center for the 2009 One Book One County finale — except when the audience of around 700 people gave a standing ovation at the end.
The audience came to hear cousins Benjamin Ajak and Alephonsion Deng, two authors of the 2009 One Book selection, “They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky,” share their experiences as part of the thousands of Lost Boys who fled the violence of Sudan as young children.
“I saw kids die every day from thirst,” said Deng, who fled his village at the age of 5. “There were days I didn’t think I’d survive. But I wanted to live. I wanted to find my family, siblings, cousins, friends. I wanted to find a real home without guns.”
Ajak and Deng were raised among the Dinka tribe of Sudan. Their close-knit community was shattered in 1987 when the government-armed Murahiliin began attacking the villages, mercilessly killing young and old.
Over the next five years the two cousins were part of a stream of child refugees that became known as the Lost Boys. In “They Poured Fire On Us From the Sky,” the boys recount their experiences along this unimaginable journey, painting a powerful portrait of war through the eyes of a child.
Driven by the desire to find security, education and self-identity, Ajak describes the boys’ efforts to learn and find their way into “freedom country” in 2001. He said he promised those he left behind in Sudan that he would tell the story of the Lost Boys and the terrors of war that have killed more than 2.5 million.
The audience soaked up every word, despite the men’s heavy African accents. Hundreds of people stood in line to have Ajak and Deng autograph copies of their book, including Deb Jacobsson and her three daughters, Alisha, 20, Rebekah, 17, and Lizzy, 14.
“(The book) was really interesting,” Rebekah said after getting her copy signed.
She read the book for extra English credit at Montcalm Community College but would recommend the book as a good, intense read for anyone her age and older (because of some violence). Her mother read the book last year and would highly recommend it as well.
“To think of all the silly things we complain about,” Deb said, still in awe of the two men’s testimonies. “And they’re not bitter. They wanted to help their people.”
One Book One County Organizer Maureen Burns was blown away by the Tuesday evening’s crowd.
“I don’t think it could have been any better,” she said. “I think I’m actually speechless.”
Burns said the 2010 One Book One County selection, marking the sixth year of the countywide reading program, will be announced in May.
jdudenhofer@staffordgroup.com (616) 754-9303 ext. 3039.
Benjamin Ajak, left, and Alephonsion Deng, two of the authors of the One Book One County selection, “They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky,” spoke to a crowd of about 700 people during the One Book closing celebration on Oct. 13 at the Greenville High School Performing Arts Center. A lunch presentation earlier that day on the college’s Sidney campus drew a crowd of about 200 students, faculty, staff and community members.