I did this collage with a photo of Sudan in the back because that was where Valentino Achak Deng was born. I also put him in the center because this book was about his life and struggles. It is his biography. To the right, I added a picture of the UNHCR. This organization helped him stay safe and provided food for him. Also the Japanese government wanted to help sponsor them ,too. That is why I decided to put a picture of their flag up. The next picture down is a picture of the janjaweed, murahaleen, and the Sudanese government. The reason as to why there is fighting in Sudan. Down on the right corner is a picture of Jane Fonda, who at one point helped Valentino when he came to America. When he reached here, he lived and went to school in Georgia. Going up the collage, it is a picture of Sudan's desert. This was one of the dreadful trips that he had to cross. I think it is an important part of his life because that's when he witnessed one of his closest friend died. Friendship was important to Valentino because he didn't know if his own family is still alive. That is why the next picture is a broken heart. He grew up with out a family, friends dying on his left and right, and his beloved Tabitha is dead. Growing up, most of the friends he made was in the camps, which is up one the list. Without the safety of these sanctums, he might not be alive today. The last picture i have up is a picture of a young boy holding a gun. This represents Valentino's life as a boy when there was pressure on him to become one of the red army. This was, to believe, the "good guys" fighting for their independence. Turned out they were just as bad as the government. The collage that I made came in no particular order of events. I believe that everything that Achak's been through and why he did and the things that was put into his head is like my collage. There's no order, but it'

The non-fiction essay

Julie K. 10E

Non-Fiction Work

April 9, 2008

What is the What by Dave Eggers will definitely be one of the books that I will remember for the rest of my life. It got me to look into my life and see how fortunate I am and how many other people have to go through such traumatizing events at a very young age. Because Valentino Achak Deng, the main character of this novel form which this biography is based on, has shown me how he faced the life changing experiences, it made me become more aware of the politics, health, and environmental concerns in Africa and how it made me want to help the world even more.

I knew that there was a war going on in Africa in Darfur and Sierra Leone and about the diamonds, but I never knew how extreme it was. Nor did I know that a war like this had ever taken place in Sudan. When Valentino started explaining the war between the government and the SPLA it caused a chill down my spine. I always thought that the war was just run because of a crazy man in charge, but it was more than that. The war in Sudan was because of oil, religion, and land ownership. In it all, this was a brutality case of shedding civil blood among Africa’s own people. It’s sad to see the innocent, young, and defenseless citizens being killed.

When the first attaches came to the town, the main questions were “what is the what” and “what’s going to happen?” As Achak ran off to stay alive, he became restless, malnourished, and alone. I never want to hear or see a child go through what he went through. The lions in the night and the bodies in the river, the guns firing at you and bombs going off, and feeling like there’s no reason to live, but living after all, yet carrying a heavy conscience that blames you for everything that goes wrong, should never be the life for anyone to live. I think that the war represents all the “what”- the bad stuff. I fell bad that he and everyone else had to live through that and having to go to bed hungry. I wish that I could have done something, and now that I have read this book I have found out many ways of giving back and helping them.

The traveling across the desert and the feeling helpless was one of the fears that ran through Valentino’s head. I never understood what the purpose of sleeping in the circle was, if the lion came up it will still eat somebody, but to them it was a system that certainly worked. The environment that they had to endure was ugly. The heat was gruesome and the water was scarce. It made me mad that even though the nourishment was low, the SPLA still had the decency to take advantage of the kids even though they trusted the soldiers. The fact that women was treated as if they had no place in anything was common a few years ago, but at least they went to school, join the activities in the camp, and apply for the resettlement created a little relief in me.

I have never read a book like this before. Nor have I ever read a book or experienced anyone who has been through such traumas. I’m glad I chose this book over the other rest because it showed me another light in the world as far as Africa’s politics, the well being of some one else, and conditions of someone who have been in a more drastic predicament than myself.