Over a Thousand Hills I Walk with You

Over a Thousand Hills I Walk with You tells the true story of Jeanne d'Arc Umubyeyi, who survived the 1994 Rwandan genocide as an eight-year-old girl. The narrative is written by her adoptive mother, Hanna Jansen, who reconstructs Jeanne's experiences through conversations and shared memories. The book follows Jeanne's life before and during the genocide, depicting her childhood in Rwanda with her family and her journey through the violent upheaval that transformed her nation. Jansen alternates between Jeanne's story and her own reflections as an adoptive mother trying to help her daughter process these events. The account moves between past and present, contrasting Jeanne's early years in Rwanda with her later life in Germany. The structure allows readers to witness both the immediate impact of historical events and their long-term effects on survivors. This memoir explores themes of family bonds, survival, and the challenge of rebuilding life after devastating loss. Through one child's perspective, the book examines how individuals preserve their humanity in the face of incomprehensible circumstances.

Readers appreciate this book's personal perspective on the Rwandan genocide through a child's eyes, with many noting it helps make a complex historical event accessible and relatable for young readers. Multiple reviews mention the impact of having both Jeanne's real experiences and her adoptive mother's narrative framework. Criticism focuses on the slow pacing in the first third of the book and some readers found the dual narrative structure (switching between Jeanne's story and the author's perspective) disruptive to the flow. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (300+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (40+ ratings) Common praise from reviews: - Clear explanation of historical context - Powerful first-person account - Age-appropriate handling of difficult subject matter Common critiques: - Takes time to engage readers - Translation feels stiff in some passages - Some readers wanted more focus on Jeanne's direct perspective rather than the author's commentary

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🌍 The book is based on the true story of the author's adopted daughter, Jeanne d'Arc Umubyeyi, who survived the 1994 Rwandan genocide when she was eight years old. 📚 Hanna Jansen weaves together two narrative voices throughout the book - her own perspective as an adoptive mother and Jeanne's experiences during the genocide - creating a unique dual-perspective account. 🏆 The book has been translated into 12 languages and received multiple awards, including the Buxtehuder Bulle, one of Germany's most prestigious prizes for young people's literature. 💔 During the 100 days of genocide described in the book, approximately 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed, representing about 70% of Rwanda's Tutsi population. 🌱 Jeanne went on to live in Germany with Hanna Jansen and her family, where she became one of thirteen adopted children in the household, all from different countries and backgrounds.