Now Is the Time for Running

Now Is the Time for Running follows fourteen-year-old Deo, a soccer-loving boy from a small village in Zimbabwe. After soldiers destroy his village, Deo flees with his brother Innocent, who has an intellectual disability. The brothers embark on a dangerous journey south toward South Africa, facing threats from both nature and hostile humans along the way. Soccer becomes their lifeline, with Deo's prized Coca-Cola soccer ball serving as both a connection to their past life and a potential key to their future. Set against the backdrop of Zimbabwe's political and economic crisis, this young adult novel traces the harsh realities faced by refugee children. The story illuminates themes of family bonds, survival, and the universal language of sport as a bridge between cultures and communities.

Readers connect emotionally with the main character Deo's journey as a refugee from Zimbabwe to South Africa. Teachers and librarians report the book resonates with middle school and high school students. Readers appreciated: - The authentic portrayal of soccer/football as central to African culture - Clear depictions of real political and social issues without being heavy-handed - The bond between the two brothers - The fast-paced narrative style Common criticisms: - Some found the ending abrupt - A few readers wanted more resolution to certain plot threads - The violence may be intense for younger readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (1,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (90+ ratings) "This book opened my eyes to issues I knew nothing about," wrote one student reviewer. Another noted: "The soccer scenes gave me hope throughout the difficult parts." The book appears frequently on school reading lists and has won several youth literature awards.

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park This dual narrative follows two Sudanese children who must flee their villages due to civil war and face challenges of survival while searching for safety.

War Brothers by Sharon E. McKay A Ugandan boy escapes after being captured by the Lord's Resistance Army and journeys home while processing trauma and seeking redemption.

Child Soldier by Michel Chikwanine, Jessica Dee Humphreys This graphic memoir chronicles a young boy's forced conscription into a rebel army in the Democratic Republic of Congo and his path to freedom.

Running for My Life by Lopez Lomong A Lost Boy of Sudan transforms from a child refugee into an Olympic athlete while carrying the weight of his past experiences.

Over a Thousand Hills I Walk with You by Hanna Jansen Based on a true story, a young girl escapes the Rwandan genocide and creates a new life while carrying memories of her family and homeland.

🔸 The book was inspired by real events that occurred during xenophobic attacks in South Africa in 2008, which displaced thousands of Zimbabwean refugees. 🔸 Author Michael Williams worked extensively with young refugees in South Africa while researching and writing the book, incorporating their authentic experiences into the story. 🔸 The "Billion Dollar Game" mentioned in the book is based on the real Homeless World Cup, an annual international football tournament that helps homeless people change their lives through soccer. 🔸 Zimbabwe experienced one of the worst cases of hyperinflation in recorded history during the period depicted in the book, with inflation reaching 79.6 billion percent in 2008. 🔸 The game of soccer features prominently in the story as both a survival tool and a unifying force, reflecting its real-world role in bringing together communities across Africa despite political and social divisions.