Of Beetles and Angels: A Boy's Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard

The book by Mawi Asgedom is a story of the author's journey from war torn Ethiopia to Harvard University. It is also a story about Mawi's father, Haileab. Haileab was determined to give his children a better life. He could not hand that life to his children and so he motivated and inspired them. He gave up everything-his job, his dignity, his respect, his country, his friends, and more so that his children might have a better life. The impact of this father is visually represented in the book in that all of his words are in capital letters.My entire family has read this book. We spent several hours discussing it together. Mawi is a great storyteller. He made us laugh and he made us think. I have given at least 15 of Mawi's books to friends and relatives to read. One friend and her husband were so moved by the book that they went and visited the organization, World Relief, in Wheaton, IL to find out what they could do to help refugees. They gave their Christmas bonus to helping several families. Everyone should read this book, adults and children in fourth grade and older, refugees and especially everyone that has contact with people of another culture. I give this excellent, insightful book the highest recommendation.

I immensely enjoyed this book. Mawi told his remarkable story with great honesty, emotion, and vivid description. His life stands as a good example of what hard work and persistence can bring to an individual, no matter their background or history. It also serves as a reminder to many of us how lucky we are in the U.S. and how there is still a lot of room for us to be more accepting and compassionate to everyone around us. I vigorously recommend this book.

I have had the pleasure to hear the author speak in person and have now read his book. I am personally very inspired by what this young man has accomplished already in his young life. Every now and then I am lucky enough to read a book that I want to share with others, this is one of those books. I will be giving to friends and family as gifts.

This book is a tribute to what can be accomplished with hard work, kindness and generosity. My heart and mind were engaged instantly by his story. I highly recommend this book and I encourage you to purchase a copy not only for yourself but to give as a gift. This is a story you will want to share.

This is an outstanding story of a young man with great achievements. He takes us through a life of trial survived only by kindness. I was at tears at points throughout this story, and i reccomend this book to anybody who wants to read an amazing epic of a refugee who makes the best of life and graduates and accomplishes great things at harvard. The wide array of emotions that this book drives you to feel all at once, is almost too much to handle at certain climactic points. One of the greatest stories i have read in years, and i recommend this to anyone. This story in fact, reminds me of that great best-selling book The Color of Water.