About the Book
At the age of six, William left the shack where he lived in Senegal, West Africa. This was the start of an intriguing, eventful, and beautiful story with a happy and inspirational ending. Underlying the story, however, is a horrific tale that reveals the resiliency of humankind. It begins with the fact that William existed, not “lived,” with an abusive and neglectful mother who accused him of murdering his baby brother.
His subsequent escape from Senegal eventually brought him to America, where he perfected his skills in hiding from the authorities, stealing food, and sneaking onto boats, buses, and trains. He prided himself in his ability to become invisible—tempting those around him to find him. No normal person would ever believe that such behaviors were possible at such an early age, but William overcame all the odds of surviving his childhood. Instead, he transformed from a six-year-old child to a boy-man with powers far beyond those of others his age.
Most current-day, middle-class Americans could not fathom the idea that a child could navigate an escape to a foreign country on his own while living in an overwhelmingly chaotic environment. This is not a judgment about a given class of society. Rather, it is an observation—albeit generalized—about most individuals who live around a circle of other individuals with common life experiences.
About the Book
At the age of six, William left the shack where he lived in Senegal, West Africa. This was the start of an intriguing, eventful, and beautiful story with a happy and inspirational ending. Underlying the story, however, is a horrific tale that reveals the resiliency of humankind. It begins with the fact that William existed, not “lived,” with an abusive and neglectful mother who accused him of murdering his baby brother.
His subsequent escape from Senegal eventually brought him to America, where he perfected his skills in hiding from the authorities, stealing food, and sneaking onto boats, buses, and trains. He prided himself in his ability to become invisible—tempting those around him to find him. No normal person would ever believe that such behaviors were possible at such an early age, but William overcame all the odds of surviving his childhood. Instead, he transformed from a six-year-old child to a boy-man with powers far beyond those of others his age.
Most current-day, middle-class Americans could not fathom the idea that a child could navigate an escape to a foreign country on his own while living in an overwhelmingly chaotic environment. This is not a judgment about a given class of society. Rather, it is an observation—albeit generalized—about most individuals who live around a circle of other individuals with common life experiences.