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Hiding behind the old sofa, five-year-old Emma does not witness the murder of her mother, but she hears everything. And when the assassins finally leave, the young Tutsi girl somehow manages to stumble away from the scene, motivated only by the memory of her mother’s last words: “You must not die, Emma!” Taken in by an old Hutu woman, Mukecuru, Emma is still haunted by nightmares long after the war ends. When the country establishes gacaca courts to allow victims to face their tormenters in their villages, Emma is uneasy and afraid. But through her growing friendship with a young torture victim and the gentle encouragement of an old man charged with helping child survivors, Emma finds the courage to return to the house where her mother was killed and begin the journey to healing. ** ### From School Library Journal Grade 6–9—When Emma, a Tutsi, was five years old, she hid behind the sofa while soldiers murdered her mother. She was taken in by a Hutu woman, and now, at 14, she faces the demons haunting her. When she hears that the soldiers who took part in the 1994 genocide will be brought to trial at a *gacaca* court in her hometown, she must decide whether to step forward and testify on behalf of the dead. Emma begins to find her voice and strengthen her opinions as she meets with others in her situation. An epilogue reveals that Emma, now 24, lives in her parents' house and has been able to make peace with her past. Based on interviews with Rwandan refugees, this novel is a testament to the struggles of those who survived these unspeakable atrocities. Though the prose is lyrical and the chapters are short, the subject matter makes the book a challenging read.—*Kelly McGorray, Glenbard South High School, Glen Ellyn, IL* Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.