All the Glimmering Stars
By: Mark T. Sullivan
My Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS
Best for: 16 and up

Oh. My. Word.

I remember reading the World War 2 historical fiction novel by Anthony Doerr, All the Light We Cannot See, years ago. I loved it, but I wanted to punch Anthony Doerr in the nose when I was finished. Not long after, I read Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan. It’s the same genre, covering the same period, and I loved it too. But instead of wanting to punch Mark Sullivan, I wanted to hug him instead.

Mark T. Sullivan writes the stories I want to read.

All the Glimmering Stars is his latest, and it’s a masterpiece. This book connoisseur doesn’t make that declaration lightly. I finished it a couple of weeks ago, and my mind is still digesting it. How could it be true? How is it possible? How could it be? I don’t know, but I’m so glad I know the past so I can be thoughtful of the future.

All the Glimmering Stars is based on the true story of Anthony Opoka and Florence Okori who, as teenagers, were kidnapped and forced into slavery as child soldiers for a fanatical terrorist named Joseph Kony, self-proclaimed voice of the gods, and leader of the brutal Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The the novel plunges into the heart of 1990s Uganda and Sudan, when the brutality of the LRA was at it’s peak as Kony forced his “soldiers” to wreak havoc and forcibly “recruit” additional children into its ranks.

Anthony and Florence were both bright and promising teenagers when the LRA shattered their lives and stole there futures when they were kidnapped at gunpoint from their homes and families.

Their journey is harrowing. There were moments I literally gasped out loud, felt my emotions spilling out, and had to stop reading and wait for my heart to slow down. One scene won’t leave my mind: a young, pregnant teenager–already the mother of a toddler–crossing a raging river in the middle of the night, frantically trying to keep her and her baby’s head above water in the middle of an hours long battle, bullets flying all around, and doing all this WHILE IN ACTIVE LABOR.

This actually happened, and so much more.

But while the story of what happened is horrific, we also get to witness the resilience, the courage, and the unwavering determination to survive in the face of unimaginable horrors. And what makes All the Glimmering Stars truly exceptional is the love story that blossoms midst the chaos. In the darkest night, Anthony and Florence find a connection that blossoms into love that shines bright. This love is what ultimately leads them out of the LRA at enormous risk.

Be absolutely certain you read the story of how this book came to be, as well as the afterward by Anthony and Florence. While fictionalized, this is a true story. And that’s incredible.

Sullivan’s meticulous research shines through in every detail. He brings the landscape of Central Africa to life, immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and smells of these troubled nations in a troubling time. The characters are as detailed as the landscape and the hopes and fears of the fathers, the mothers, the children, and the teenagers are all deeply relatable, making their struggles all the more poignant.

This book is heavy, maybe the heaviest I’ve read. Ultimately, however, it’s a story of hope and resilience. Anthony and Florence’s journey is an inspiration, reminding us that even in the face of unimaginable adversity, we can endure, we can forgive, we can find peace. We can even find joy.

Mark Sullivan doesn’t shy away from the darkness, depicting the violence, trauma, and sexual assault that these young captives endure. This Dad recommends All the Glimmering Stars to readers 16 and up, and make sure you give space to your kids to talk about what they read.

Happy reading!