What is the What

   In the book What is the What the author Dave Eggers talks about a “lost boy” from Sudan. The boy’s name is Achak Deng but when he moved to Atlanta he started to use his christian name Valentino. The book walks you through Achak’s life. The book is set in America. Achak was the son of a somewhat powerful father. He escapes the Sudan genocide and goes to a refugee camp. The book talks about Achak’s struggles through mostly flashbacks.
   Achak moved to Atlanta and is staying with another Sudanese man. He has had many jobs. Currently he is in school. However many people make fun of him for being from Africa. One night a women knocks on his door. She asks if she can use his phone. He gives her permission, this was not a good idea. She when into his room and locked the door. She starts to rob Achak. Her accomplice who is a man comes in and ties up and beats up Achak because he talks. While they are robbing him Achak has flashbacks of walking through the desert with 100 other boys. He talks about how some of them were attacked by lions. Also how he saw people infant of him get shot to death. 
     When the robbers leave Achak is unconscious. When he wakes up he sees a boy sitting on the couch watching tv witch was too heavy for the robbers to take. He tries to talk to him but he throws a book. He keeps trying to talk but he never responds. During this Achak has different kinds of flashbacks. He has flashbacks about his earlier life. Such as meetings he attended with his father before the war started. Also one about when the baggara attacked the town and Achak and his mom fled.
       The book shows the struggle and suffering of the victims of the Sudan genocide. There will be a part 2 because I haven’t finished the book. The author does a good job  transitioning from flashbacks to the present. The book is a must read.