Walking Home

A church fire, the result of political violence in Kenya, killed Muchoki and his sister Jata's father, and landed the siblings and their mother in a refugee camp; rampant disease and a dearth of food and water are only a few of the threats they face. After their mother dies from malaria, Muchoki, 13, and Jata, age seven, embark on foot for her hometown of Kikima, in order to avoid being separated and sent to orphanages. Armed only with inspiration gleaned from Muchoki's friend Jomo and a Kamba tale about following a string all the way home, the two trek 100 miles through the wilderness. While readers will feel confident that the siblings will arrive at their destination, numerous menacing challenges, from lions to starvation, create suspense. Walters (The Rule of Three) walked the same route himself, an author's note explains (photos and videos from his journey, as well as context about malaria, Kenya's displacement camps, and more, are available on a companion website), and he captures the hope and need driving Muchoki and Jata through empathic writing and a brisk plot. Ages 10%E2%80%93up. (Sept.)