Eight Days

Book excerpt: “Composed in the wake of the devastating earthquake of January 2010, this inspired child’s-eye view will leave no reader or listener unmoved.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) From the New York Times-bestselling author and National Book Award finalist comes a brilliantly crafted story of hope and imagination—a powerful tribute to Haiti and children around the world . . . While Junior is trapped for 8 days beneath his collapsed house after an earthquake, he uses his imagination for comfort. Drawing on beautiful, everyday-life memories, Junior paints a sparkling picture of Haiti for each of those days—flying kites with his best friend or racing his sister around St. Marc’s Square—helping him through the tragedy until he is finally rescued. Love and hope dance across each page—granting us a way to talk about resilience as a family, a classroom, or a friend. “An uplifting story, told in the ingenuous voice of Junior, a boy pulled from the rubble of his former home eight days after the earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince in January 2010 . . . a moving celebration of hope, determination, and resilience.” —Publishers Weekly “Focusing on one child who survived the 2010 disaster in Haiti, this beautiful and touching picture book is a true testament to the spirit of the people of this nation.” —School Library Journal “Their moving storytelling personalizes the dramatic news stories of the disaster with a close-up, fictionalized narrative of one child’s experience.” —Booklist