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The author shares his memories
In the first chapter, titled "Memories", the author, Mawi Asgedom describes his memories of leaving Ethiopia on a long journey with his family to a refugee camp in Sudan. -
Refugee Camp
In chapter two, "The Camp", the author starts by explaining what is was like to attend school in Sudan, and that the teachers didn't mind to physically discipline the students. He also talks about the encounters he and his brother had with other children in the neighborhood, and how they had to defend themselves during physical altercations. This chapter also talks about the mischief he and his brother would get into, along with his Father's explanation of what America will be like. -
America Bound
In chapter three, "Coming to America", the author explains how his parent's contacted World Relief,(an organization that helped refugees settle into the U.S.) for assistance. They had passed the interview and were ready to go, until the author's half sister appeared. This caused a delay in the process since his parents did not want to leave without her. So they waited a year until everyone, including her, were able to go to America. -
Settling into the new life
In chapter 4, "A new life", the author introduces us to Beth, a World Relief case worker who found the family a sponsor with Bethel Presbyterian Church. His family also made life long friends with habesha women when the women brought gifts of injera bread and sebhi stew, saying how they remember their first days in America as well. The end of chapter 4 explains how his family went from living in a motel, to moving into their new two story home and announces the birth of his new baby sister. -
Do not judge a book by it's cover
Chapter 5, "God's Angels", it is explained that his father believes we should always be kind to strangers, since they may be one of God's angels.The author also describes a girl named Charlene, who would come by and take the kids to play soccer, play guitar and sing, and also teach them different paths to get around the area. They called her their angel, and tell her they think of her often. -
Elementary School days
In chapter 6, "Playground Warfare", the author recalls details of the physical altercations he and his brother faced while attending school, specifically on the playground. He describes the way other children would call them names due to their race, and tells us how he was forced to defend himself against many of the other children -
Halloween
In chapter 7, "Days of Mischief", the author is explaining how he first experienced Halloween. He compares it to a holiday he celebrated in Sudan called "Hoyo, Hoyo". In this chapter he also talks about how he, his brother, and their friend stole a parking meter to try to get the quarters. -
A very sad time in his life
In chapter 8, "Libee Migbar", the author describes how his brother, Tewolde, always worked hard and was on the path to starting his own business. He then tells us about how his brother was tragically killed in a car accident by a drunk driver, before he even graduated from high school. -
coming together
In chapter 9, "Coffee Tales", the author describes how everyone came together to talk about stories of back home and how they are adjusting to America. -
Dad's past
In chapter 10, "The making of a man", the author gives us information on his father's past. We learn how his father became a doctor and the reasons why he moved to Sudan long before his family could join him. -
How he became a beetle
In chapter 11, "The unmaking of a man", the author describes how in his father's old age, he begins to realize that he is no longer the same man he used to be. He talks about all the wonderful things his father had done in his life and now, being in America, he is no longer able to continue being the doctor he once was. -
Hard work pays off
In chapter 12, "Eyeing the mountaintop", the author tells us about his hard work and dedication that lead him to being accepted into Harvard. -
Father's stories
In chapter 13, "Father Haileab", the author tells us about the stories his father shared during his last visit in his junior year, before his father passed away. -
The big finale
In chapter 14, "Izgihare Yihabkoom", we reach the author's graduation day from Harvard. He expresses his thoughts of how his father may have reacted if he were able to be there.
