The Boy from Boadua

Imagine a room with nothing on the walls, no running water, no bathrooms, no sinks and sleeping on a bed of straw no paved roads, no indoor plumbing, and having to get up before daylight and carry four buckets of water on your head from the river back and forth four times before going to school. The journey of our author was long, hard, and tedious, and his goals were unique only to him. His parents in his village and others were illiterate and could not read or write. Education in some families was not a priority yet his parents expected them to attend. The school he first attended had 6 classrooms each with the bare minimum: chalkboard and little else including no lunches which sent the students racing home to eat since they could not afford to buy lunch. Living conditions in Ghana where he lived were harsh and as you read his story and understand his life throughout his childhood, middle school years, and your determination to attend the right schools to achieve his goals, you root for him, you cry tears when adversities occur and you admire his persistence, tenacity, and awareness of his life, his family and each if their values and a father who took every opportunity to provide for his family and children who learned from an early age the true meaning of hard work, family unity, and overcoming obstacles that most could not. 

In their small village in Ghana, Patrick learned the value of reading and was inspired by the hope of getting an education he used reading pieces of newspaper fragments that people used to wrap fish. Determined to learn more about the world living in poverty, not always having food to eat, sharing with his family, and living in fear of what comes next, he knew that summer vacations were for helping his father on the farm. Leaving his family to get a second farm little did anyone realize what a vital part it would play for Patrick in the future. His life takes many turns and curves as he shares his educational goals, hard work on the farm, and understanding of the true meaning of illiteracy and why he was determined to rise above. Reading, studying, and practicing for an entrance exam in an elite school that he hoped to be admitted to. 

His life was the farm and education until accepted to the school he chose and was denied it for lack of money for tuition and more. Water that was unsafe to drink, the farm infested with poisonous snakes, and more life took many scary turns. His brother Emmanuel and him working the farm since his brother injured his ankle but he never falters they manage to get back to the farm but are always worried about their father all alone. Money was tight so why not send on food? Instead, he bought newspapers that down the road you’d be shocked at its importance. 

Patrick had one goal to be admitted to Achimoto and that journey and the obstacles you need to take along with him. Accepted to this secondary school was all he hoped for and the interviews went well but the magic of the success was short-lived. Read pages 83-84 and feel his frustration and emotions. Settling for another school and then getting to know Francis allowed them both to slowly form an everlasting bond and competition. But Francis never went higher and things turned around for Patrick with another journey and years in Russia.  

But first his new friends about Boadua and Oda and realized when attending Archimoto his goal helped him to be accepted to a university in Russia. Then meeting Patricia and hoping for a life with hervwoukdvtake years in coming. Life was hard and his goals were many as we take the classes along with him, learning Russian and gaining a new Russian friend the author realizes cultural differences, language barriers, and a new understanding of cultures. Always with his family in mind, teaching in America in the Buffalo schools on many different levels we learn about two black students that made a great impact on his life and ways of thinking. Jamal and Antoine. Read the first paragraph of the prologue to understand the rationale behind Jamal’s words. Learning about his time teaching there and the differences between the schools there and in Ghana. Thousands of poor American students live in neighborhoods so violent that a safe passage to he writes is not assured. 

The author shares something very enlighting the method of conducting exams in Russia would have been a challenge for me but definitely, a welcomed one. How he interacted with Soviet students, and then the loss of his father before he attained his dream of rebuilding ing his home took a toll on him, and when he received his degrees he cried because he never saw them. 

Why were so many black students bullied? Listen to his words to Antoine. 

Some journeys never end admitted to Tuck to study and then moving to Wyomissing was a big change the people there were welcoming and his children thrived until the world changed and black men were killed by white policemen how would he handle it? 

Reliving the past and the value of self-confidence and the sadness that some children cannot pursue their innate talents because of external constraints. A story so powerful and important that teaches many life lessons, including understanding the meaning of poverty yet never losing sight of his goals and objectives. Read Chapter 15 and learn about his lifelong friendships and more.his final thoughts you need to read for yourself as he reflects on his life and read the last paragraph that I’ve copied as it says it all. A must-read for all students of any age to cherish what we have and do what many others wish they did. 

Fran lewis just reviews