Kek comes from Africa. In America, he sees snow for the first time, and feels its sting. He’s never walked on ice, and he falls. He wonders if the people in this new place will be like the winter–cold and unkind. In Africa, Kek lived with his mother, father, and brother. But only he and his mother have survived, and now she’s missing. Kek is on his own. Slowly, he makes friends: a girl who is in foster care, an old woman who owns a rundown farm, and a cow whose name means “family” in his native language. As Kek awaits word of his mother’s fate, he weathers the tough Minnesota winter by finding warmth in his new friendships, strength in his memories, and belief in his new country.
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"I loved that the book was written in a poetry style in the voice of the main character Kek. He is a refugee from Africa who because of a language barrier manages to get into a lot of funny scrapes. Also is touching because of his feelings toward the excess in America compared to his home country of Somalia. Interesting writing style no quotation marks in the conversations in the book. Great insight to what ESL students face. I thought I would not like it based on the premise of the story and the cover and I was more than pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it."
— Teresa (5 out of 5 stars)
" Quick read with great insight for how hard it is for immigrants to come to America & confirm to our culture. Especially since this boy came from Africa to a cold Minnesota winter! It's written in prose-style and it reads really quick. Written well from the viewpoint of Kek, a young boy who is trying to correlate his life in Africa to that in Minnesota, through a cow. "
— Holly, 2/11/2014" I was nicely surprised by this book by Applegate of Animorphs and Making Out fame. "
— Katie, 1/24/2014" Great book with a very strong, yet gentle main character. As a refuge from Sudan, a young boy adjusts to living in the United States. This is told in free verse so it flows along at a fast clip. The story is compelling and tugged at my heart. "
— Crystal, 12/15/2013" Home of the brave is a sad book but is a good book. It's about a little boy tha had harsh times in Africa so he went to America he dirint know alot of words of America then he went to school and learned alot of words also in the TV machine.It's a Historical fiction book. I half schema for when I read a book about a boy that lost hear mom. what i do not want to remember when i felt that i lost my mom. "
— Clemente, 11/24/2013" AWWWWW I loved this book! Every thing was perfectly realistic and the characters were lovable. I was definitely a sucker for the cow. "
— Aubrey, 11/13/2013" What an excellent book. Imagine going from war torn Sudan, to Minnesota in the winter. Well written- with emotions evoked without gory details. Loved it! "
— Kristi, 11/9/2013" Excellent book. Gentle with great empathy for immigrants. "
— Hope, 10/19/2013" My 11-yr-old son had read this and recommended it to me. It was an incredible book. "
— Mitzi, 10/2/2013" Beautifully written. I loved this story. "
— Rachel, 10/2/2013" This beautiful book tells the story of a young Sudanese refugee arriving in Minneapolis. It is written in verse and is filled with wonderful images and a sense of the strangeness of the English language. Kek is a character who inspires us all. "
— Amanda, 9/18/2013" Author writes in free verse from point of view of a young Sudanese boy who has just moved to US. Gives a very realistic picture of the culture shock and added burden of dead and missing family members. Author shows how Kek brings his world into American life. "
— Corinneecomly, 8/24/2013" I thought this book was really emotional and full of things that you wouldn't understand if you had never been in that situation, loved it! "
— Kate, 2/8/2013" Very moving... I loved the author's poetry-it added to the book. "
— Allie, 10/18/2012" The beautiful cover and deckled edged paper drew me into this novel, which is written in verse. Kek, the main character, is a very poetic little boy, who looks at American culture through fresh eyes. I loved his perspective on even mundane things like an airplane (flying boat). "
— Maria, 9/25/2012" This book was really amazing. Impressed me a lot. "
— Sheharbano, 12/13/2011" I found this book slightly--forgive me--boring. I know, it had important points and all, but Kek came off as rather a yawn to me. I honestly feel truly vicious for saying that, but maybe I just could have been more enthralled. "
— Sarah, 8/23/2011" Bluebonnet 2010-2011 "
— Kristen, 7/28/2011" I read this book for William Allen White and I absolutly loved it! It is about a boy who wants to find his mother and a just warms my heart. "
— Grayson, 7/21/2011" Marvelous book - very fast read. Great for upper elementary and jr. high. Would have liked more from the novel, it could have been longer...otherwise I would have given it a five out of five. "
— Eryn, 4/23/2011" Great book to read with my students. Gives the interesting & thoughtful perspective of a student new to this country. Also, the fact that it is written in verse makes it short -- and appealing to middle-schoolers! <br/> "
— Laurie, 4/18/2011" YA. Kek, a Sudanese refugee whose brother and father haves been killed and whose mother is missing, resettles with an aunt and cousin in wintry Minnesota. Kek's ingenuity and optimism get him through. "
— Stacey, 4/15/2011" This book tells of an immigrant's journey from Africa to America. Not only does Kek have to deal with snow and English but guilt for being a survivor. Very good. "
— Jeanne, 4/9/2011" Max and I are reading this together. Beautiful story written in prose. Sweet story. "
— Danielle, 4/7/2011" One Word AWESOME!!! I Love This Book!!!!! :) "
— Julissa, 4/4/2011" I'm not entirely sold on the way poor Kek is delegated, for much of the book, as being from "Africa" as a whole. Rather than, you know... from his actual country.... But! It's a beautifully-written book with a surprisingly uplifting ending, and well worth the read.<br/><br/> "
— Monica, 3/12/2011" A beautiful book with rich language & images from the Sudan. So many good lessons about belonging & acceptance. I'd love a sequel. I hated to say goodbye to Kek. "
— Linda, 2/28/2011" Made me laugh, cry, and celebrate! A fantastic book in my world! "
— Leah, 2/16/2011" interesting to see free verse. Very simple plot "
— Brian, 2/13/2011" We LOVED this book! So much you can do with this one and so many good topics to discuss: African proverbs, fitting in, cross-cultural experiences, effects of war, descriptive phrases, etc. Something for every age group except very young elementary. "
— Cindy, 1/12/2011" Wonderful book. It's a quick read and a tear jerker. Read it today! "
— Mackindowd, 1/3/2011" I loved this book. All through it I was hoping for a happy, or at least hopeful ending for a character I really enjoyed. I think you can guess I was satisfied by the stars I gave it. "
— Katterley, 12/26/2010Katherine Applegate is the author of numerous books for middle-graders, including The One and Only Ivan, winner of the Newbery Medal and a New York Times bestseller.
Katherine Applegate is the author of numerous books for young readers, which have won the Newbery Medal and made the New York Times bestsellers list. Among them are the One and Only series, the Endling series, Crenshaw, Wishtree, the Roscoe Riley Rules chapter books series, and the Animorphs series.
Dominic Hoffman, winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards for narration, has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice. He is a Los Angeles–based actor of stage, screen, and television. He has appeared in such television shows as The Shield, NYPD Blue, and The Jamie Foxx Show. He attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art as well as the American Conservatory Theater.