Jan L. Coates – "What if…?"

*Inspired by Jacob’s true story, Coates writes vividly and poetically, establishing a clear historical context for her inspirational tale. From the beginning, Jacob Deng embodied the spirit of Wadeng, the faith that tomorrow will be better, and by the end of the tale, Jacob as storyteller and writer is poised to enter a wider world, where “there are as many books in the world as there are stars in the African sky. Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

*By telling the story through the eyes of a young, Dinka boy, Coates simplifies the complex and difficult political and social issues, and makes the story of the Lost Boys accessible to young readers. Her reliance on the storytelling narrative style leads to simple but memorable images. In her interview, she states: “it’s my hope that children struggling with troubles of their own will read about young Jacob, admire his determination as he worked to overcome the tremendous adversity in his life, and be inspired, and perhaps empowered, to confront and overcome their own problems.” (p. 281) She and Jacob share a wonderful dream. Patricia Jermey, Resource Links

*An important and well-written story.  Jan Coates takes the reader deep into the lives of children dealing with the uproar of war and terror – a strong reminder that the world needs to do better. Deborah Ellis, Dec. 2010

*Author Jan L. Coates tells the true story of Deng, a former refugee who went on to establish the Wadeng foundation for displaced citizens of Sudan, in a realistic and emotional way that will appeal to young adult readers with its sympathetic young hero and his quest for a better life. Jacob’s story, as well as the plight of Sudanese refugees in general, needs to be told to inform Western audiences of the relatively recent turmoil in the nation. Coates’ book, a stirring piece of historical fiction, does this well. Zachary Snow, Children’s Literature Reviews

*A heart-wrenching story about life, love, friendship and survival. (Ages 9-12) KidsBookshelf, June, 2011

*Coates’s detailed narrative is ripe with a multitude of themes and lessons for us: Jacob’s strength of character despite being in the midst of unimaginable suffering; the faith of these boys in believing that tomorrow was an opportunity for a better day; and how the road to peace is paved with education, not violence. One of the most compelling aspects of this story was Jacob’s learning to read. Jacob was a natural storyteller, inspired by the stories of his grandmother. Her stories and his memories of those stories were instrumental in helping sustain Jacob and his companions at the refugee camp. The power of storytelling and of reading is a message I resonate strongly with and is one of the biggest takeaways from this amazing read. Chris Singer, Book Dads

*Jacob’s strength of character is almost unfathomable. His struggles and hardships seem insurmountable, but against all odds he survives – one of only a few. His unwavering ambition to get to school and his memory of his mother is what keeps him going. This isn’t a book about war. It’s a book about what happens to innocents affected by war. Ms. Coates has told a story that more people should be aware of and has written it in a way that manages to keep hope alive, through unbelievable adversity. Think about our lives from the age of 7 onwards, then read this book. The Paperback Princesses

*Jan L. Coates hits the nail on the head with the theme of education promoting peace and ridding of ignorance. The evils of war are a plague upon the earth, making so many suffer of all ages. A Hare in the Elephant’s Trunk is a riveting, compelling, and fast-paced novel that allows the characters to naturally shine, many who are complex and round. Jacob’s love of storytelling comes in handy many times, and even though he learns to read and write in English, he never gives up his family and his culture. Royal Review by high school student Sean Andres

*It’s always a risk for authors, setting a novel in a place and a culture that’s outside their own experience.  But Jan Coates has succeeded wonderfully with A Hare in the Elephant’s Trunk.  She gives the reader an uncomfortably vivid sense of what it must be like to lose one’s home and family, to wander aimlessly through a bleak and blasted landscape, in constant danger of starving or being shot.  Such desperate circumstances could have led her young protagonist, Jacob, to become bitter, to resort to violence himself.  And, working with such material, Coates could have written a very dark and despairing sort of book.  But both the author and her characters rise above the situation and find in it an unexpected wealth of humour and humanity and hope. GARY L. BLACKWOOD (The Shakespeare Stealer, Wild Timothy, Shakespeare’s Apprentice and others)