Her Own Two Feet

August 15, 2019
"Amahirwe aza rimwe," or "chance comes once," in this story of 9-year-old Rebeka's brave journey from Rwanda to the United States for a life-changing surgery. Rebeka Uwitonze, raised in Bugesera, Rwanda, was born with arthrogryposis, which caused her joints to contract, resulting in curled and twisted feet. With the support of her little sister Medea, she eventually walks on the tops of her feet, but it will soon become impossible to continue upright without further intervention. Fortunately, what began simply as a school sponsorship turns into the chance of a lifetime: Co-author Davis and her husband of Austin, Texas, will host Rebeka so she can receive surgery that will enable her to walk for the rest of her life. Yet this means that Rebeka must leave her family and the country she knows for a world and language that are totally different. She writes home to Medea and keeps a small blue handkerchief stitched with her mother's love in her home language, Kinyarwanda: "Protect me from grief. I will be your pride." When Rebeka finally returns home after 58 hospital visits and 31 different casts, she's able to share her new experiences and spread the bravery to her peers to confront any and all life challenges. The story is related in a tightly focused third person and incorporates substantial dialogue; Davis describes the process in concluding notes. Snapshots of Rebeka both at home and with her white host family help to document her journey. Touching. (Biography. 8-12)

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Starred review from September 9, 2019
Born in the Rwandan countryside with arthrogryposis, a disease resulting in curled hands and twisted feet, Rebeka Uwitonze taught herself to walk on the tops of her feet at age seven. Following multiple unsuccessful attempts to straighten her feet, an American sponsoring her school education arranges for U.S. doctors to evaluate then-nine-year-old Uwitonze for another possible treatment, this time surgical. If she is found to be a candidate for the surgery, Uwitonze would have to stay in the States with a host family for as long as a year. With her family’s blessing (“Chance comes once,” her father says, a phrase repeated throughout the book), Uwitonze flies, alongside translator Anna, to Austin, Tex. With the support of her host family—coauthor Davis and her family—Uwitonze undergoes numerous medical procedures (31 casts and 58 hospital visits) and works arduously studying English and learning to walk anew, while missing her family. Mixing Davis’s third-person narrative and Uwitonze’s first-person introspection (via letters to her sister), interspersed with endearing photographs, the authors sensitively convey Uwitonze’s wealth of strength through adversity and the familial love—from both her own family and her American host family—that helped her navigate her experience. A glossary of Kinyarwanda words and notes from the authors conclude. Ages 8–12.

November 8, 2019

Gr 4-8-Uwitonze, one of seven siblings, was born with clubfeet in a small village in Rwanda. She got around by crawling until she was seven years old. Eventually, she taught herself-with some help from her younger sister-how to walk on the tops of her feet. Walking was painful, slow, and would likely not be sustainable as she grew into adulthood. Through Africa New Life Ministries, an organization that enables donors to sponsor the education of Rwandan children, nine-year-old Uwitonze traveled to Texas to receive treatment for her feet. She lived with a host family, the Davises, for a year, undergoing multiple surgeries, 58 hospital visits, and 31 casts on her legs. Uwitonze, who navigated homesickness and daunting physical challenges, made tough decisions and persevered. Davis, the host mother, captures the child's humor and resilience. A glossary with select words and sentences in Kinyarwanda, a national Bantu language spoken in Rwanda, is included. Readers interested in hearing Kinyarwanda spoken aloud can find a recording of Uwitonze reading the glossary at herowntwofeet.com, a companion website to the book. VERDICT Uwitonze's story of strength and bravery will appeal to most middle grade readers.-Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn

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