*I was provided the book What They Meant for Evil by Rebecca Deng by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis
What They Meant for Evil is a personal account from a Lost Girl of Sudan. Rebecca Deng tells a heartbreaking story. Trying to escape a violent civil war Rebecca finds herself in a refugee camp that houses thousands. She lives in this camp for most of her childhood. Conditions are terrible and they are not properly cared for. But Rebecca rises above her past to make a place for herself in this world that tried to destroy her. This is a story of redemption and forgiveness. And the truth that your past does not define your future.

This book is not a guide to grieving or working through your past. It’s just the journey Rebecca had to take to get from damaged and frightened girl to confident, if still broken, woman. She tells of the things that happened to her through the lens of the girl she was when it happened. Her story is real and honest.

Important themes
After getting her master’s degree Rebecca began working with a program that helps women from war-torn countries in Africa work through their own trauma. It was going through this program herself that made her realize how badly she had been traumatized as a child. Even though it was hard to relive what had happened to her, it was vital for her to work through it.

“…I learned how to grieve, question, take my pain to the cross of Jesus, and ultimately forgive.”
-Rebecca Deng, What They Meant for Evil

Rebecca also addresses the indisputable right we have to stand up and say no to something we don’t want to do. In Dinka culture, it is very common for girls as young as 14 to be given to a man in an arranged marriage. Usually the father will arrange this but in Rebecca’s case, because she was an orphan, her uncle arranged this marriage. She was only 15 years old.

Ultimately, this is how she ended up in America. She applied for the Lost Girls and Boys program the UN was running to get away from this marriage. She knew she was worth more than this and she fought for herself in a culture that told her everyday she was not in control of her life.

In America with help from her adoptive parents she graduated from high school and college. She has spent most of her adult life helping people from Sudan recover from the trauma of civil war.

In conclusion
Rebecca’s story was eye opening for me. I feel that reading stories like hers allows me to see what it is like for people living in war torn or third world countries. Places where their basic human rights are denied over and over again.

I have much to be thankful for. I’m thankful for Rebecca and her story. I’m thankful that she keeps fighting for those who have been overlooked and beaten down. She shines as an example of what people can do if only they are given the chance. Her story is heartbreaking but also wonderful. The theme of redemption is woven throughout and the importance of forgiveness is paramount in healing from any kind of trauma.

Recommended reading
If you want to read books similar to What They Meant for Evil I can recommend They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky. This story is told by three Lost Boys of Sudan. I read it a few years ago when I was in college and I liked that one just as much as this one.

My rating for the book
I gave What They Meant for Evil 4.1/5 stars based on my own personal rating scale.

This book embodies the definition of true beauty. Rebecca Deng's story is one that needs to be read by millions of people. She not only told a story about survival, she turned her greatest nightmare into hope not only for herself, but for those who went through the same circumstances. There were points where I was brought to tears by some parts of this book. It's nothing short of amazing how her story developed and how she refused to let go of her faith in God despite the circumstances. I'm extremely thankful that she took the time to relive these memories to share them and that I was able to read it. This is a life-changing book.

This book brought many memories of my years living in Uganda! I saw firsthand and met several people and children escaping these horrible atrocities! The story so simply and eloquently painted a vivid picture of life in Africa! Her faith, her spirit and determination impressed me so much! I met many of her kinsman who gave up when she persevered and kept going! What a tenacious spirit! This book is an absolute read especially anyone who has lived close to this kind of war

I remember hearing about the Lost Boys of Sudan back in the 90s, but I’d never heard about the Lost Girls of Sudan. I have a basic knowledge of boys forced into an army, and intertribal and religious warfare disrupting the region. I’d read the memoir of a young man who had been enslaved during the same general time period, but had no real concept of what went on in the region during this time period.

Rebecca Deng’s memoir chronicles one Lost Girl’s story of hardship, loss, deprivation, and redemption.

Deng begins with her earliest memories in her village, her family, and the abundant life they led. By the time she turns six, war has shattered her idyllic life and she has suffered loss. War haunts her for the next 20 years.

Her words paint a beautiful portrait of life in Africa and how her people, the Dinka, have a strong community. “In our culture when person loses somebody, people go to that person’s compound or house for weeks and stay with them. They cry with them and they wipe the person’s face. They bring that person food and get their water.”

I can’t even imagine living as a refugee for days, months, and years. For Deng, a tent city in a barren land became a way of life. She doesn’t sugarcoat the experience. It depresses those who experience the homelessness, loss of community, and purpose in life. Deng finds salvation in a church community and in attending school.

Her sense of humor keeps the book from ever feeling maudlin. In reference to her first taste of broccoli, Deng says, “[it] looked like a small desert tree and tasted awful.”

All too often, we who live with plenty think that all wisdom and knowledge originates with us and our culture. We have much to learn from other cultures and ways of seeing and knowing. For example, even though her family suffered from intertribal warfare and feared the people with the red skin (Arabs), her uncle taught her the universality of humanity. “Do you know that all the people in the world have one race? Their hearts! When you speak the truth or the language that the heart understands, the outside differences don’t stand a chance.”

Her people also encouraged her to pursue her education. “‘Education is your mother and father,’ they told me. ‘You are an orphan, and if you are educated, the knowledge will be your missing parents and relatives.’” Wise words for a generation living in freedom that often undervalues education.

Deng faced her highest hurdle as she reached adulthood and learned to forgive those who had meant evil in her life and torn away her family identity and replaced it with a ‘Lost Girl’ status. Her relationship with Jesus helped her realize that, “God believes you are priceless, and your wounds do not define who you are in Jesus.” Wisdom each of us needs to live and breathe and speak into others’ lives.

Wow! A powerful story the reminds us of how God works even in the midst of suffering! Amazing read! Thank you NetGalley for an e-arc.

Wow! I absolutely loved this book. It touches your soul. You walk thru her life and feeling her pain and joy. In spite of all the heartache, abuse, pain & loss, you see God's hand working in her life. This is a book I would recommend to everyone that wants to be able to see the world thru someone else's eyes. Her strong Dinka roots helped her persevere when most would give up. Thank you for sharing this amazing read!

Rebecca's story is a powerful testament to how God works in the midst of suffering. I was aware of the civil war in Sudan that displaced so many refugees, but I hadn't really heard someone's full story who lived it. Rebecca's hardship begins at the tender age of 6 when her village was attacked. As she recounts the events throughout her childhood she maintains childlike innocence in her writing voice which I found very effective in understanding the world through her eyes. She lost so much, but her faith was strong and she didn't allow her pain and suffering to taint her view of God. We can learn much from her. While I have not experienced the trauma of war or loss to the degree Rebecca has, I have grieved the loss of a baby, and I know, as I think we all have, the pull of the question 'Why?' And like Rebecca, I don't find that question helpful because we don't always get to know. But Rebecca says, <I>"Though Joseph's story is of an Israelite boy and mine is of a Dinka girl, our stories are the same in that they communicate the stories of suffering; but they also communicate that nothing is wasted in God's world. He redeems everything to himself." </i> I love that. Even in the midst of pain we know that God does not waste it. He is in the business of redeeming all things. She goes on, <i> "What brings healing is honoring the pain, acknowledging its impact, trusting God to secure lasting justice, and forgiving those who have caused our suffering." </i> Rebecca's strength is admirable. Her story encourages and challenges us to resist despair and to serve others. Read this book and you will have a new heart for refugees and a broadened perspective on suffering.

We've heard of the Lost Boys. Rebecca Deng is one of the Lost Girls of South Sudan, a survivor of the Sudanese civil war. Her village, in what is now South Sudan, was totally destroyed in the Bor Massacre of 1991. Thousands were killed and a hundred thousand were displaced during that time. She is one of 89 girls who was able to leave the refugee camp and relocate in the U.S.

Hers is an amazing story. She writes of life in her village as a child then fleeing when she was six. Her mother having just died in childbirth and her father fighting, she fled with relatives. They walked through burned out villages, finally making it to Kenya. She was separated from her relatives along the way, found her uncle, then entered a refugee camp. After eight years in the camp and a teenager, she was able to apply for a program to enter the U.S.

Deng's story is a story of faith. She had lost her immediate family, her village, her childhood. She had seen tragedy and death. She suffered from dehydration and malnutrition. She was frequently mistreated. Yet she can say what others meant for evil, God meant for Good. (Loc 3207/3276)

Deng's memoir is written well. It gives evidence to God's redeeming a life filled with so much loss and bringing it to a place of love and fulfillment.

I received a complimentary egally of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Rebecca Deng is not only a survivor, but a thriver. Known as one of the Lost Girls, the Sudanese refugees who came to the United States to be adopted and given a fresh chance at life, she tells of her life before, during, and after the ravages of war. Her account is gripping and inspiring. Anyone who finds reasons to complain about the struggles of daily life should take the time to read what this young lady endured. Although this book was listed among children's books, I would not recommend it for anyone below high school age due to adult situations. This book was provided for review through NetGalley.

This book is intense. To be honest I had not heard of the Lost Girls, only Lost Boys. I dont even remember their truggle as I was too young at the time. But Rebecca Deng has brought a new perspective to the horrors that the young men and women suffered. Her words have made me laugh, cry and pray. It made me pray that we never have to face what she went through. It made me pray that those who've survived never have to face further horrors. And it made me pray that the survivors are all doing well now.

Writing 5/5
Story 5/5
Grammar 5/5

Overall score 5/5

Thank you Rebecca for your courage in writing your survival story. Thank you NetGalley f ou r the chance to review this book. And thank you for making sure it is well recieved.

What a phenomenal awe-inspiring book to read. Rebecca Dang did an incredible job writing her story of perseverance, determination, and God's restoration and redemption. God's grace and mercy totally surrounds her story of survival and courage of a Sudanese Refugee that is tender-hearted and courageous. Her story of a lost girl that has now been found totally reminds me of the the song Amazing Grace how sweet the sound, I once was lost but now I'm found. Everyone should read her story. I was provided this excellent story by NetGalley for an honest review.

I will never understand the wars that happen in countries between different tribes. I will never understand why we can not all just get along and celebrate each other's differences. I know it is mostly fear but it is still heartbreaking. Rebecca Deng should not have ever had to experience any of the things she did but I am thankful that she shared her journey, both through the war, through her thoughts as she joined a family in the United States, and through her faith. This book isn't for the faint of heart, and I don't think we can ever understand what Rebecca Deng went through, but reading her story is one way to help learn about different cultures. It is a way for us to celebrate our differences. It is a way for us to see one person turn her suffering into her life's work to help others. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who likes reading memoirs about real people.

What They Meant for Evil
How a Lost Girl of Sudan Found Healing, Peace, and Purpose in the Midst of Suffering

by Rebecca Deng

FaithWords

Christian

Pub Date 08 Sep 2020

I am reviewing a copy of What They Meant For Evil to FaithWords and Netgalley:

We have heard a lot about the lost boys of the Sudan, but what about the 89 girls who also escaped.

What They Meant For Evil is the story of one of the first unaccompanied refugee children of the Sudan to come to America. Rebecca came in 2000. She lost most of her family to South Sudan’s second civil
war.

Rebecca watched murder, destruction, in horror. She endured great hunger and thirst and abuse. But Rebecca would build a life for herself in America a life far away from the war in the Sudan, her experiences though drove her to reach out to other refugees!

I found that What They Meant For Evil was a powerful story of overcoming a childhood that was sadly colored by war, but she did not let the sorrow of her experience stop her from pursuing her dreams. I find this story is worthy of five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

This is probably the best book I have read in a very very long time! It is a real story of a Sudanese refugee. Her story of survival started when she was a little girl, and since then she had to become a witness to an incredible amount of hardship and horror, including death, starvation, dangerous dehydration, abuse, and violence. The only thing Rebecca Deng did not experience for herself was death, but even death could have been easier than anything she is describing.

My favorite parts of the book were about her childhood in the village, description of the fields, food, homes, and community. I am amazed by her uncle Machok, his almost super human actions, and the sacrifices he made for other people. I really enjoyed reading about the author's first impressions of the USA, lifestyle and white people. It was fun. But most of all, Rebecca Deng is a wonderful example to so many people in the USA today, whose feelings are hurt. Here we have someone who was actually emotionally and physically hurt, orphaned, who beat the odds, and came out on top! Her faith, tenacity and positive outlook is greatly admired! It is a must read.

Painfully beautiful..... These are the words I would use to describe Rebecca Deng’s book. Parts of her story left me breathless and heartbroken, but the redemption, the way she has been able to take all of the violence she has endured and not be broken, to still give all of the glory to Him, is awe inspiring.

That we live in a world of lost boys or lost girls is sad to me. This story needs to be heard to open our eyes to situations like this. It is such a heartbreaking yet inspiring story. I am thankful to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy.
Must read!!

Absolutely incredible, riveting, heart-wrenching, hope-filled book. What a life and what a story Rebecca has so bravely shared with the world! Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to review this amazing book!

This was well written and a good read. I'd heard about the Lost Boys of Sudan, but not the Lost Girls. Her story was heartbreaking and also encouraging. I highly recommend this book.
I received this book free from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

This is a powerful book that puts a human face on faceless atrocities, and that aspect on its own would be enough for me to recommend it, but combining that with an intimate portrait of the author's faith and perseverance in the midst of unbelievable adversity makes it a must-read, by my lights. The author provides a vivid portrait of the hell she was forced to endure, but offers anecdotes of innocence and lightness that provide relief in between the horrific details--the reader is given a break, as it were, which makes for an easier read overall. While the book is certainly not for the faint of heart, there is respite to be found in the midst of such awful events, and the authors and editors should be commended for that effort.
Stylistically and tonally, it seemed to me that the vocabulary and modes of expression changed as the author's story progressed; simple terms and "dialects" were used when describing her childhood, and as she went to school in America and became fluent in English, the tone and style of the book developed concomitantly. I can see the appeal in using that as a metric to track the author's own growth and evolution, but to me it was distracting at times. It also seemed that there was a looser sense of time in the last quarter of the book, where events spread out over the course of a few years are put together in just a few pages, and it took a bit of re-reading for me to figure out how the events were spaced together. None of these issues are major detractions from the quality of the book, but would definitely benefit from some further polish prior to publishing.
The authors did an excellent job in grounding the overall story in Rebecca's faith, taking time to answer the question "how could a loving God let this happen?" in many places. The book certainly lives up to its title.
I cannot recommend "What They Meant For Evil" highly enough and can easily see it being used in a church group study or informal Bible study. I will definitely read this book again.

This was a hard book to read, and even harder to take in the breadth of what Deng suffered as one of the Lost Girls of South Sudan. Overlaying the horror of war and evil toll it takes on children in its path, Deng paints a beautiful picture of strength in the Lord and resilience rooted in His grace. Even after being granted refugee status and finding a foster home with loving Christian parents, Deng's trials continued as she experiences ongoing culture shock combined with the stress of trying to live up to her remaining Dinka family's expectations . I felt such admiration at how she took advantage of every opportunity that came her way, and felt shamed by my indifference to the many blessings I receive and the poor use I often make of them. Yet, this is not a book that leaves the reader weeping -- to the contrary, it is uplifting and encouraging. On the morning I finished the book, I received email from a charitable group still working in South Sudan and for the first time, I understood a glimmer of what they face and how I can help. Five stars from this reviewer.