Ryan and Jimmy: And the Well in Africa That Brought Them Together

I highly recommend the book, but parents of book report writers, beware...my 5th grade son selected it. It sounded like a good idea at the time, until we tried to put together bite size summaries. Because there are essentially 2 stories here, it is difficult to include both the fun and the important details in 6 paragraphs or less. An overachiever could do it in more, but 5th grade is a time of 3 page reports with pictures. Unfortunately, any of the key facts (how does Tom find Jimmy after he escaped? How was the trip to Uganda for Ryan initiated?) seemed to be missing. But if your child isn't reading it for a book report, it is a wonderful story of compassion and charity.

Every person - child or adult - should read this book. Ryan is the perfect example of someone who saw a need and took action. As a teacher at an International Baccalaureate - Primary Years Programme, this book stands side-by-side with the profiles and attitudes of a reflective learner.

The story begins with a teacher telling her classroom of young children about the plight of children in Africa who are without clean drinking water. A boy saves up money from household chores to help. But the book is far more than just a story about bringing a well to an African village. There are enough twists and turns in the plot to keep everyone on the edge of their seat. Not only do Ugandan children drink unclean/unsafe water, but their very lives are at stake because of roving bands of kidnapped children who were forced to become soldiers. A thoroughly engrossing book suitable for classroom read-aloud time.