Majok Tulba

“Here in the jungle, we are neither humans nor animals. Too intelligent to be forgiven for the deeds of beast, too unforgiving for the company of humans.”

Beneath a Darkening Sky is the debut novel by Majok Tulba, who came to Australia as a 16 year-old refugee from South Sudan in 2001. The book was shortlisted for New South Premier’s Literary Awards 2013, Commonwealth Book Prize 2013, the Dylan Thomas Prize 2013 and won Kathleen Mitchell Literary Award 2014. Majok Tulba was named one of the Sydney Morning Herald's Best Young Novelists of the Year in 2013.

When Majok was nine years old his village was invaded by the Sudanese Armed Forces. The children were all measured against an AK-47 and those taller than the gun were kidnapped and taken as child soldiers. Majok and his younger brother were separated from their parents and managed to escape with some children, living along the borders of South Sudan and Uganda, until being given an Australian visa. This story is a fictionalised version, based on survivor accounts, of what his life would have been if he was taken as a child soldier.

Obinna and his older brother Akot are captured by the rebel soldiers after having watched their father being beheaded, their mother raped and their village burnt and desecrated. This is only day one, however, of a life of fear and horror. The children are marched relentlessly in front of the army as land-mine fodder, to protect the rest of the army from unexploded detonations. They are systematically tortured, reviled and forced into a kill-or-be-killed situation. Only Obinna’s own personal sense of integrity and the support of a friend Priest keeps him from losing his mind.

The pathological cruelty and enjoyment of torture of the Commander was unbelievable, justified in his mind by the belief that the rebels were freeing the people from an oppressive government. Hard to fathom how this translated into the murder of hundreds of innocent villagers, the rape of women and the capture of young boys as soldiers and young girls as sex slaves.

I am conflicted by this book, although it was beautifully written and clearly highlights barbarous things still going on in our world, the book is violent in the extreme. The reading was traumatic and what some people would call “trauma porn.” Read it if you wish to educate yourself about the horrors of modern warfare and evil, but be prepared for an uncomfortable, even traumatic read.… (más)

(8.5)I found this book a very quick read. The style is simple, I think because it is partly aimed at a young adult audience.
The narrator Juba, I imagined to be about 12-13 years old. He lives in the village of Pacong in South Sudan, with his mother and younger brother and sister. His father was murdered by government soldiers and his older brother Deng has joined the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army i.e. rebels, to seek his revenge. When the village is attacked and bombed again by government soldiers , he is forced to flee alone. The book follows his long trek to the refugee camp and the further deprivation and horrors experienced. Nonetheless, there is joy and hope.… (más)

Beneath the Darkening Sky tells the horrifying story of the life of Obinna. One night the rebels come to Obinna's village to wreak havoc; burning huts, randomly beheading the men and lining up the children, taking anyone higher than the size of an AK-47. Obinna and his brother Akot find themselves taken to join the revolution. Akot seems to take to training but Obinna refuses to really join the rebels, while he has been taken he never really accepts their ideals. It was a soldier called Priest that ultimately helps Obinna.

Beneath the Darkening Sky is a gripping story of a child taking a stand and not letting anything or anyone stifle his principles. Obinna has to go through a lot of horrible events but through it all he stands strong. He is uncompromising in a world that is twisted and corrupt, for a young boy he really is brave and determined to an almost unbelievable state. I don’t know how I would be if I had to live like Obinna but it’s clear to me that he was never going to change his mind and this almost lead to the books downfall.

I like a story of a man taking a stand against all odds, but this was clear from the get go and this made the book a little predictable and nothing really ended up surprising me. There are horrible things within this world and Obinna has to suffer more than any boy should have to suffer. I respect the protagonist but I find it hard to enjoy a novel so conventional. There are elements of this book that are raw and overly violent but this is only to portray just how much Obinna has to overcome. This is an interesting novel as long as you never let the predictability get in the way of an amazing story of an uncompromising young man stuck in a world that would break most people.… (más)

"I'm not even sure how old I am anymore. Older than 11 and younger than 16. Years don't matter...we count age in kills", October 10, 2014

This review is from: Beneath the Darkening Sky (Paperback)
A highly compelling read, set in South Sudan. It opens on a night in a small village: nine-year-old Obinna is lying in his tent, afraid to go outside to the lavatory in the dark. He's a typical kid - school, rivalry with his brother, good parents ...and then the rebels turn up and he will never be the same again.
Taken away into the bush and forced to join in the bloodthirsty raids and harsh camp lifestyle, we gradually see the innocent child transformed:
"I spoke as a child and I thought as a child and I understood as a child. How could I know what they were making me into? all I knew was fear and death. ..If I could outrun fear, if I could be brave, I'd outrun them. But I haven't got anywhere. it's made me one of them."
Excellent, thought-provoking novel.… (más)