Memories of Sun: Stories of Africa and America

by Jane Kurtz

What is it like to grow up in different parts of Africa today? And what's it like to be a child of two cultures -- an American living in Africa, or an African living in America? In South Africa visit the Bushman Farm, where a lonely girl meets a group of Bushmen who are making their living as a tourist attraction -- and finds friendship and family as she's never known them before. In Tanzania join an American family on an unforgettable safari whose highlights include a broken car, a camp of armed men, heat, tsetse flies, and laughter. In Los Angeles be surprised by what happens when a teenage veteran from war in Sierra Leone comes into conflict with a local gang leader. Jane Kurtz, who is herself a child of two cultures -- Ethiopia and America -- has gathered a remarkable collection of voices. These twelve stories and three poems sing of Africa, of America, and of people changing, growing, crying, and laughing under the same sun.

Genres: Africa, Short Stories

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Jane Kurtz was born in Portland, Oregon, but when she was two years old, her parents moved to Ethiopia. Jane grew up in Maji, a small town in the southwest corner of the country.
Since there were no televisions, radios, or movies, her memories are of climbing mountains, wading in rivers by the waterfalls, listening to stories, and making up her own stories, which she and her sisters acted out for days at a time.


That love of nature has recently inspired her to write books about loving the Earth--such as WHAT DO THEY DO WITH ALL THAT POO? and PLANET JUPITER.

Jane has published more than 40 books, fiction, nonfiction, picture books, novels for young readers, and ready-to-reads. Some are based on her childhood in Ethiopia. Some draw on her own children, such as ANNA WAS HERE, a novel for young readers that asks life's big questions about pain and disaster--and offers a few puny answers.

Since her childhood in Ethiopia, Jane has lived in Illinois, Colorado, North Dakota, Kansas and--now--back in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of short stories and poems written by authors either from Africa or with some connection to Africa. There's at least one short story that I feel I could use with my high school ESL students and will perhaps add the whole collection to my classroom library. I am (as always) still slightly uncomfortable with the feeling that the book is about "Africa" given that Africa comprises many distinct cultures. Just because the book is about "Africa" doesn't mean it will resonate with all of my African students.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is great, in that it presents stories from different authors with different perspectives from various African countries. It highlights the fact that there are so many cultures and experiences represented in this vast continent. My very favorite story was by Selamawi Asgedom, an immigrant from Ethiopia. It led me to his book, Of Beetles and Angels, which just bowled me over. What an inspiring man!

[LeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of short stories and poems by authors from both continents describes life in various African countries and some of the experiences and impressions of Americans in Africa and Africans in America.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read 'Flim Flam' written by Jane Kurz. It is an excellent short story based on a real experience.

[Kelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to find this book, but it didn't turn out to be riveting as I'd expected. A few of the stories were quite good but overall I was disappointed by their simplicity and lack of spice.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best short story collections I've read in a long time. At no point did I feel like the stories talked down to young adults or oversimplified the issues.

[Mariah Aardema]

Not the best books, it didnt keep me very engaged kinda boring.