Auma's Long Run

By Eucabeth Odhiambo

Auma's dreams clash with family duty as AIDS ravages her village.

4.1/5 Goodreads · 570 ratings

304 pages

$10.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In 1980s Kenya, Auma dreams of becoming a doctor, fueled by a track scholarship. But when AIDS strikes her village and her father, she faces a heart-wrenching choice: pursue her future or stay to protect her family. As the epidemic spreads, Auma races against time to find a cure, balancing hope and resilience. Can she hold onto her dreams amidst the crisis, or will her family's needs redefine her path? Auma's journey reveals the human side of a devastating health crisis, offering a poignant tale of courage and determination.

From the publisher

Auma is racing toward her dreams as fast as possible–but can she turn her back on her family when tragedy hits home? This acclaimed debut set in 1980s Kenya is a poignant story of loss, grief, and the power of resilience. A track scholarship could put thirteen-year-old Auma one step closer to leaving her small village in Kenya. She is determined to become a doctor, and nothing–not her classmates, not her marrying age, and not the night runners who come by the house while she sleeps–will stop her. But then a strange new sickness called AIDS starts ravaging the town, eventually spreading to her own father. How can she think of leaving when her mother and siblings need her? Determined Auma finds herself in a different kind of race: to find out if there’s a cure and protect her family, all while keeping a hold on her dreams. Based on the author’s childhood in Kenya, Auma’s story humanizes the AIDS epidemic and reveals hope amidst a devastating health crisis. Paperback edition includes a reading guide at the back!

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