Website design By BotEap.comA Long Way to School tells the fascinating life story of Second Nimenya, who grew up in Burundi, Africa, in the 1970s.

Website design By BotEap.comNimenya is the author of three other books, including Evolving Through Adversity, her award-winning memoir. A Long Way to School is her young readers edition of that book, rewritten to inspire middle and high school age readers to overcome challenges in their own lives. Western students will discover not only how well they have it compared to people in developing countries, but they will also discover that anything is possible when you are determined to succeed.

Website design By BotEap.comSecond Nimenya’s story is one of relentless determination in the face of challenges and a constant desire to learn and overcome their circumstances, no matter the odds.

Website design By BotEap.comFrom the earliest years of her life, Nimenya refused to give up. As a baby, she crawled into the fire when her mother left the room for just a minute. Her parents had to take her to the nearest hospital, an hour’s drive away, but since they didn’t have a car, they made the trip on foot.

Website design By BotEap.comWhether dealing with poverty and not being able to afford the bare necessities, struggling to get an education, walking everywhere, or dealing with bullies in school and in life, Nimenya never gave up. Her resilience through much adversity is what made her who she is and informed her mission in her life.

Website design By BotEap.comA Long Way to School is the story of fulfilling a purpose to educate yourself despite the difficulties. Nimenya didn’t even touch a book until she was in sixth grade.

Website design By BotEap.comI doubt if any reader in North America has experienced the difficulties that Nimenya had going to school, but she was determined to succeed, and she did. Eventually she got married and moved to Canada and then to the United States. She went to college, and perhaps most surprising of all, the girl who didn’t even know what a book was as a child, she grew up to be a writer. She is now the author of four books and plans to write many more.

Website design By BotEap.comA Long Way to School will open anyone’s eyes to the privileges we take for granted in public education in the United States. Nimenya states, “I believe that education is the only solution that truly empowers communities and has the potential to end the cycle of poverty and violence.” Her commitment to education, the obstacles she overcame, and what she was able to accomplish will be eye-opening and inspiring for young readers.

Website design By BotEap.comNimenya’s message is one of hope and encouragement. She believes that with determination, people can always achieve their dreams. No matter how difficult the journey, she tells us to “always be persistent, like I was, even though it was a long way to school because I knew when I got there, it would be worth it.”

Website design By BotEap.comA Long Way to School is a wonderful book for young readers all over the world. It would be a perfect reading assignment for history, social studies, and English classes. In addition to sharing her story, Nimenya shares some leadership insights, the “Ten Leadership Habits for Teens and Beyond,” for readers to build on. It also provides a set of “Reflection Questions” at the end so readers can apply the concepts and ideas they’ve learned to their own lives, helping them discover their own purposes and the future they want to create for themselves.

Website design By BotEap.comSecond Nimenya’s writing style is easy to read and suitable for young readers from middle school grade level to older readers. The cover suits the book well because it shows a girl struggling to walk to school, when school was so far from home, a literal and figurative image of what Nimenya’s life has been like. Read what this young woman has endured and you will understand how she too can make the best of any situation through perseverance.

Website design By BotEap.comI highly recommend A Long Way to School.