The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth We

Clemantine's story about the Rwanda genocide is an important one.  One that should be told and shared over and over. It's about fighting to live, fighting for the next day and the day after that.

This book is her experience in fleeing the Rwanda War, finding her way to  America. She spent six long years traveling though seven African counties before reaching safety.

This books is touching and emotional but it lacks flow and ease. It's very jarring and the time line jumps all over the place. This can work when done correctly but in this case it distracts from a very important story.

I wouldn't recommend this book as an introduction of what happened in Rwanda as it lacks background information but if you want a read on self determination and survival this book is for you!