Review by Booklist Review
Sobol's account of the Peace Kawomera Growers co-op in Uganda is an uplifting story of community and religious harmony that is all the more inspiring when considered against the country's history of civil unrest. Tracing the co-op's roots, he introduces its founder, J. J. Keki, who is a coffee grower, musician, and religious leader in his eastern Ugandan village of Namanyonyi. After personally witnessing the 9/11 attacks, Keki resolved that it wasn't enough for the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities of Namanyonyi to simply coexist; they must actively support one another. Thus he proposed the coffee growers co-op and worked tirelessly to convince farmers of all faiths to join. In just 11 years, it has grown from 250 members to more than 1,000. Well-chosen color photographs show Keki in his village, families harvesting and processing coffee, and smiling children, both in their places of worship and playing together. Sobol takes care to supply readers with necessary historical and religious context (documented in back matter) without burying the story's heartening message of peace.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5-After witnessing the September 11 attacks, J.J. Keki-a musician, composer, and coffee farmer-was inspired to create change in his home village of Namanyonyi in Uganda. Keki wanted to foster religious tolerance in his community made up of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim families. His solution was to form a coffee growers' cooperative and encourage the local farmers, regardless of their faith, to join and work together for better prices and bargaining power. Using the neighborhood children, Keki reached out to their parents, urging them to become part of the co-op. The venture started in 2005 with approximately 250 members. As of 2016, there are more than 1,000 members participating. Half- and full-page captioned color photos liberally illustrate the text, which also describes the process of growing and harvesting the coffee cherries. VERDICT A useful selection for primary social studies curricula interested in foreign agricultural initiatives.-Eldon Younce, Anthony Public Library, KS © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
J. J. Keki, a Jewish musician and farmer from a small village in Uganda with Jewish, Christian, and Muslim residents, was about to visit the World Trade Center on 9/11. The day's horrific events inspired Keki to return to Uganda to start a coffee cooperative that would include the whole community. An engaging photo-essay about an unusual agricultural experiment. Bib., glos. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
