There are 11.5 million children in sub-Saharan Africa who have been orphaned because of AIDS. Deborah Ellis traveled to Malawi and Zambia to talk to some of them, and the 50 or so voices presented here—of children, teens, and several adults who have stepped in to care for orphaned children—put faces and stories to that staggering number. Through their words so much is revealed: fear and pain and suffering, but also hope and courage and resilience. Many of these children and teens have been managing adult responsibilities for much of their lives—taking care of sick or dying parents, responsible for younger siblings, or completely on their own. Most have benefited from the work of organizations and individuals in their communities who have taken on the overwhelming challenge of tackling some of the issues that go hand in hand with the AIDS crisis: they provide meals or a safe place to sleep for kids who would otherwise be on the street, or they run support groups and provide AIDS education to battle ignorance and the stigma associated with the disease—a stigma reflected in the comments of many of the children and teens, who often don’t know what their parents died from. The children and teens dream of becoming nurses, doctors, teachers, accountants, or actors in the future. They dream of being good people. The clarity and strength of their voices makes this a heartening book, even as the picture it paints of the world in which they live is sobering. Each section of interviews opens with one or more quotes—from politicians, activists, poets, and others—that underscore how this crisis is one that requires not only compassion, but also resources and cooperation on a scale that has yet to be seen. (Ages 11–18)

Stories of survival.

Songs of hope.

Children you'll never forget.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, there are more than 11.5 million orphans. The AIDS pandemic has claimed their parents, their aunts, and their uncles. What is life like for these children? Who do they care for, and who cares for them?

Come and meet them. They might surprise you.

Royalties from this book will be donated to UNICEF

Awards and Nominations:

Winner, Book Link Best Book for the Classroom, 2005

Winner, School Library Journal Best Book of 2005

Finalist, 2006 Information Book Award

Runner-up, National Chapter of Canada IODE Violet Downey Book Award for 2005

2006 Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award short list

2006 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction finalist

Red Maple Award for Non-fiction shortlist, 2007

Garden State Teen Book Awards nominee 2008