Rebeka Uwitonze was born in Rwanda with curled and twisted feet, which meant she had to crawl or be carried to get around. At nine years old, she gets an offer that could change her life. A doctor in the US might be able to turn her feet. But it means leaving her own family behind and going to America on her own.
Her Own Two Feet tells Rebeka's inspiring story through her eyes, with the help of one of her hosts. She travels from Rwanda to Austin, Texas, to join the Davis family, despite knowing almost no English. In the face of dozens of hospital visits and painful surgeries, Rebeka's incredible bravery and joyful spirit carry her to the opportunity of a lifetime. A stunning debut about hope, perseverance, and what becomes possible when you take a risk.
"With the support of her host family — coauthor Davis and her family — Uwitonze undergoes numerous medical procedures (31 casts and 58 hospital visits) and works arduously studying English and learning to walk anew, while missing her family. Mixing Davis’s third-person narrative and Uwitonze’s first-person introspection (via letters to her sister), interspersed with endearing photographs, the authors sensitively convey Uwitonze’s wealth of strength through adversity and the familial love — from both her own family and her American host family — that helped her navigate her experience." — Publishers Weekly
Recommended Age | 8 - 12 |
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Author | Meredith Davis, Rebeka Uwitonze |
ISBN | 1338356372 |
Publication Date | Oct 1, 2019 |
Publisher | Scholastic Nonfiction |
Language | English |