The Red Pencil

By Andrea Davis Pinkney, Shane W. Evans (Illustrator)

A young girl flees her ravaged village, finding hope in a red pencil.

3.9/5 Goodreads · 7,474 ratings

336 pages· 20,420 words· Est. 2.5 hour read

$34.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Amira dreams of school, but her Sudanese village is destroyed by the Janjaweed. Forced to flee, she embarks on a perilous journey to a refugee camp. Amidst the hardship, a red pencil ignites her imagination, offering a glimmer of hope and new possibilities. Can Amira find the strength to rebuild her life from the ashes of her past?

From the publisher

“Amira, look at me,” Muma insists.She collects both my hands in hers.”The Janjaweed attack without warning.If ever they come– run.” Finally, Amira is twelve. Old enough to wear a toob, old enough for new responsibilities. And maybe old enough to go to school in Nyala– Amira’s one true dream. But life in her peaceful Sudanese village is shattered when the Janjaweed arrive. The terrifying attackers ravage the town and unleash unspeakable horrors. After she loses nearly everything, Amira needs to dig deep within herself to find the strength to make the long journey– on foot– to safety at a refugee camp. Her days are tough at the camp, until the gift of a simple red pencil opens her mind– and all kinds of possibilities. New York Times bestselling and Coretta Scott King Award-winning author Andrea Davis Pinkney’s powerful verse and Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist Shane W. Evans’s breathtaking illustrations combine to tell an inspiring tale of one girl’s triumph against all odds.

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