DISPLACED

In a suburb of the Kenyan city of Eldoret, 14-year-old Kimathi escapes the men with machetes who killed his father during the post-election violence of 2007-2008.

Kim flees with his mother and younger sister, Ngina, to a neighbor’s house, where they hide until it’s safe enough to reach the police station. The novel focuses on the first eight months of Kim and his family’s adjustment to life in a camp for internally displaced people. He attends a local school and befriends twins Sam and Chebi, who, like many kids in the camp, are being raised by a widowed mother. Doctor Tabitha at the camp’s NGO clinic helps the young people deal with the horrors they’ve witnessed, and Kim welcomes this support; his recurring nightmares are painful. The doctor listens while he talks about his former life and present situation: Kenyans from various tribes are crowded together in makeshift housing, and the adults hold on to their bigotry and mistrust. But Kim and his friends overcome these divisions, finding refuge in each other as well as in kind Raju, a man who’s the only Asian camp resident and who shares his books, allowing them moments of escape. Ochieng sheds light on the impact of PTSD, grief, and bigotry through this story conveyed in the compelling voice of a teenage boy. Kim’s courage will speak to readers, and the exploration of the importance of maintaining continuity and pursuing education will resonate.

Outstanding.