Beyond the Sand and Sea
- 288pages
- 11 heures de lecture
From Ty McCormick, winner of the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, comes an epic tale of a family's quest for safety and belonging. Asad Hussein grew up in the world's largest refugee camp, where life revolved around the dream of reaching America—a land of possibilities. In the mid-2000s, many displaced families were resettled in the U.S., but when Asad was nine, only his sister Maryan made it to Arizona, leaving him and the rest of the family behind. During their long wait, Asad found solace in books donated by American charities, often written by immigrants from war-torn regions. Inspired by Maryan, he dreamed of becoming a writer himself, but it would take fourteen years before he could join her in America. Asad's journey from Dadaab refugee camp is one of resilience against overwhelming odds, marked by chance encounters and remarkable generosity. While many young men face perilous journeys or are drawn into extremism, Asad not only reached the U.S. but also earned a scholarship to Princeton, becoming the first person born in Dadaab to gain admission. This extraordinary narrative highlights the strength of a Somali refugee family that never lost hope in America, while also shedding light on the flaws of a refugee resettlement system that left them in limbo for over two decades.
