Jean Patrick, a Rwandan Tutsi, dreams of uniting his splintered country by becoming its first Olympic track medal winner. Despite warnings to the contrary, he is convinced that the accelerating Hutu rage directed against Tutsis will not endanger him because of his national value as an Olympic hopeful. Only when it is nearly too late does he realize he is wrong. Jean Patrick’s hopes turn to ashes as his country “descended into hell” during the horrific 1994 genocide. Though this powerfully stirring novel narrates a deeply disturbing period in Rwanda’s history, the reader is left with the truth that “it is love that resurrects life from death.” (HarperCollins)
