The Journey and its end

Jacob’s story ends with a hope for a better future, although it was long and boring at times it is a story worth telling. The story was full of bumps in the road, as well as good and bad times.  This entire book really shows what can happen when someone puts their mind to something, have a positive attitude and a little knowledge. The boys in the story pushed forward no matter what happen or what got in their way they made it to somewhere safe. They also learn many lessons one their way.  

First of all in the story we are brought back to the first few chapters with Jacob’s family as he thinks of them, this gives us a sense of how close he is to his family.  The first few chapters are very happy and up lifting but then we were thrown in to this dark, “load”, horrifying world with guns, tanks, and bombs. The boys are then facing the world and need to survive on their own bring their own talents to the group to push them forward. Right after Jacob lost all of his family, Jacob and Monyroor traveling together for a very long time. Eventually they find Oscar and Willy, along with the centipede of boys wondering the desert. They then starts to travel with them making our group of four that are the main charters in the book. Each of these boys plays a very important roll in all of their survival as the travel.  First of all is Monyroor, who is the leader of the group. He stays with the boys to leaded them and protected them like a King lion taking care of his pride.  As Willy said, “ You are the chief of our pride, Monyroor… You are the king lion, keeping us safe.” (Pg. 82-83).  Then there is Oscar who keeps everyone up lifted and distracted from all the bad in their lives, as he makes jokes and finds the positive side of the situation. Then Willy has very sharp eyes finding things for the boys like medicine and supplies. Like when Willy finds a special kind of flower that helps to heal sores (pg. 84).  Finally Jacob who is the kind boy with the “brains”, as he grows through the story he gets smarter and more responsible, helping the boys out and getting/making things that give the boys more of a chance at life.

Second of all there is much growth in the story, both in body and mind, expressly for Jacob.  I found through the book everyone was talking about war and going to become soldiers to fight for their country but around the end things chanced. Jacob realized that school was good and did make a big difference. If people understand things they can better understand each other, as well as work out their problems without war.  This is shown when Jacob and Majok start to become friends even though they hated each other before. Jacob then realizes school and educate can bring people together, “Maybe Majok is growing up, learning to live in cieng. That is the first time I can remember him being nice to me. Our fight seems a very long time ago- we are competitors in school now, but that is good competition. Maybe we are learning to respect each other…” (Pg. 222) Then later in the book it also is shown that war isn’t the way to go as Jacob meets Adam again and he is really different, respecting and thinking it is a good idea for him to go to school. (Pg. 247-250)  Then it is shown again when Jacob meets his Uncle Daniel and his uncle tell him, “I would do anything to help you go to school, Jacob. Young people like you are our only hope for the ending the war in Sudan…”  (pg. 270) So this shows us that an education can do much to help people whether it is to solve problems or find new ways of doing things.

Finally in my option this was a really goo book and it opens your eyes when it comes to third world countries and war.  There are many interesting parts but could be boring at times.  The boys were very persistent and happy. Another thing is the ending is really unsatisfying, as we know nothing about what happens to Oscar, Monyroor, and Willy, as well as really what happens to Jacob in the end. So all and all there it is a good book and I hope to learn more about the lost boys of Sudan.