Mark Your Calendar!
A Conversation with the Authors, Achut Deng and Keely Hutton
Thursday, November 14, 2024
7pm
Dordt University, Sioux Center
About the Book Don’t Look Back
Many are familiar with the stories of the Lost Boys of Sudan. Our One Book, One Sioux County choice for 2024 is a memoir of a girl who survived the Sudanese Civil War and fought to save her own life. Achut Deng walked miles through a war-torn country, ending up in a refugee camp where she lived for 10 years; she eventually had the opportunity to move to the United States and settled in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Her powerful story details her experiences, her unwavering perseverance, and her will to live.
Deng’s story, written with author Keely Hutton, chronicles the terrifying reality of growing up in a war zone, a situation faced by far too many children across the world. Yet the book is also a testament to the goodness in humanity and the power of moving forward, overcoming the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the way.
About the Authors Achut Deng and Keely Hutton
Achut Deng was born in South Sudan and came to America as a refugee when she was sixteen years old. She is now an American citizen and works in human resources at a meat-packing plant in South Dakota, where she also resides. She is the mother of three sons.
Keely Hutton is a children’s book author and former English teacher. She worked closely with Ricky Richard Anywar to tell his story in her debut novel, Soldier Boy. Her second novel, Secret Soldiers, is set in the Western Front during World War I. Keely lives in Rochester, NY with her husband, two sons, and adorable dog named Maximus.