Hoping for a Home After Nigeria

by Heather C. Hudak

Baseema's family was nearly torn apart by the terrorist violence of Boko Haram in her homeland of Nigeria. Forced to flee their farm, they relied on friends of her father for a home and support. Still unable to return, the family moves again to Kano, the second largest city in Nigeria, and struggles to survive. Baseema's story gives a glimpse of how many refugees rely on extended networks of family and friends and how, with education disrupted, young women are often forced to marry early.

32 pages, Library Binding

Published August 30, 2019

About the author

Heather C. Hudak has worked as a professional writer for more than a decade. She began her career as a journalist with a small northern newspaper, before working as a movie critic for an entertainment magazine. When she arrived at work one day and the doors were locked, she started a new chapter in children's book publishing. For eight years, Heather developed and wrote dozens of books, and she edited hundreds more for the educational market. Now, she is turning a new page in her writing career. Her first full-length, young adult novel, Breathless, is now available for ebook readers. Wanderlust, a second title in the Breathless series, is currently in development. Heather will be publishing her first chick lit novel, A New Life, this spring. When Heather is not writing, she enjoys traveling to new and exotic places, as well as camping in the mountains. With her husband, Heather rescues animals that would not otherwise find a loving home. Hershey, the one-eyed, blind, epileptic, snaggle-toothed cat, and Turtle, a sternumless Siamese, are just a few members of their menagerie.

Reviews

[John Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do most twelve year old girls worry about? I bet it's not whether you'll still be alive tomorrow. As you read through Baseema's story, you might go from shock to disbelief, to horror at what she and thousands of other Nigerians have endured since 2009. She was a happy school girl until the terrorist group Boko Harum began raiding villages, bombing schools and mosques as well as killing, or capturing citizens. She and her family fled, walking a very long distance, her mom barefoot, until they reached a larger safer village. Unfortunately, that wasn't the end. As you read through the book, you're hit with statistics, bits of Baseema's own experiences, letters to friends and how, even today, the fear of being kidnapped, killed or having to move again hangs over her and thousands of her fellow Nigerians.