What One Book Should All High School Students Read? by Benny

What One Book Should All High School Students Read? by Benny - February 2015 Scholarship Essay

One book that all high school students should read before they graduate is Left to Tell by Immaculée Ilibagiza. Taking place during the genocide in Rwanda, a small African country, the story not only narrows in on the atrocities one woman faces, but also highlights her persistence in the hardest of times. Its strong details engage readers in the personal account from beginning to end, as if they are experiencing the events first-handed. Similarly, its use of imagery causes readers to sense everything that the author sensed herself.

Although war is a recurring theme in the retelling, both hope and strength could hardly go unrecognized. Somehow, the author manages to be a bright light in the midst of total darkness. The war forces her to hide in a secret room to avoid being killed by authorities. For months, she occupies the same spot, surviving on little to no food and water. Not to mention, she shares the room with nine others; the whole situation causes her to feel the very presence of death itself. Even then, the author surfaces every bit of her bravery to overpower any of her fears. In this way, she not only stays positive for herself, but also for the others in-hiding with her.

Overall, the book is not a must-read, but more so a want-to-read. Although its plot does not clearly resonate with most readers, its messages strike all readers personally. It teaches them that bravery, hope, and strength should never be belittled, even in the eyes of fear itself. Also, its storyline takes readers on a similar journey, indirectly informing them on just how bad the genocide was. For these reasons, Left to Tell by Immaculée Ilibagiza is one book that all high school students should read before they graduate.