North to Paradise
- Downloads：2016
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-02-10 00:19:45
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Ousman Umar
- ISBN：B094JM3PDB
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Angie
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Crazy， dangerous lifeThis story is amazing。 I can only imagine the hardships he went through to get to Europe！ Here I am， in the safe warmth of my house， complaining I don't have a specific snack I want。 Shame on me。 Crazy， dangerous lifeThis story is amazing。 I can only imagine the hardships he went through to get to Europe！ Here I am， in the safe warmth of my house， complaining I don't have a specific snack I want。 Shame on me。 。。。more
Dermot Thornberry
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Great example of bravery， honesty & determinationSo often the media destroys any positive thoughts regarding refugees！ This story is just one example of the many examples of refugees who have been determined to make a success of their new life。 Working hard after a gruelling sometimes long and dangerous journey。 Why shouldn't they want a better life！ The extra element in this account is that Ousmandoes not forget his roots or where he came from - he gives back to the children of Ghana - unselfis Great example of bravery， honesty & determinationSo often the media destroys any positive thoughts regarding refugees！ This story is just one example of the many examples of refugees who have been determined to make a success of their new life。 Working hard after a gruelling sometimes long and dangerous journey。 Why shouldn't they want a better life！ The extra element in this account is that Ousmandoes not forget his roots or where he came from - he gives back to the children of Ghana - unselfish and caring。 。。。more
SUBRAMANIAN MURALIDHARAN
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north to paradise reviewThoroughly enjoyed it。 Being an immigrant myself I could relate to the authors experiences。 Though mine was very different。 Glad he is helping the kids of Ghana with education。
Pam
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This book is short， yet impactful。 This is a free book on Amazon First Reads （February 2022）， and I highly recommend it。
Dmanuck
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Inspirational！Incredible story of one child as he struggled to Ranch Europe。。。。never giving up， always praying， and very encouraging。 Well worth the time to read。
Danielle Simmons
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WOW。 Reading this man’s journey out of Africa was so humbling and eye opening。 I could not stop reading about his experience and was so relieved when he made it to Spain。 This story showed how greedy and cruel people can be， but also how generous and selfless others can be。 I will be doing further research on the NGO that the author founded to help educate students in Ghana and will be doing what I can from afar。 GO GET THIS BOOK AND READ IT。
Suzanne Jung
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A DreamA young dreamer sets out to fulfill a task。 Buoyed by hope and remarkable luck， the dream is made real。 He becomes a modern shaman using his wit and hard work to forge a life of deep meaning。
Farid
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Sometimes the smallest detail in the present can determine your entire future。That is why I will continue to tell my story， so that one day， there are no more stories like mine to tell。
Rye
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What a story of extreme hardship and perseverance！ Very thought provoking and well written。
Enrriqueta Mattson
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I could not put the book downThe excruciating journey Ousmar took， the distance that he traveled， the meandering and length of time and his age （he was just a child！） is heart-rending but well written。
Katherine
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I could not put this book down。 Umar’s incredible story of having refugee status and gaining citizenship is tumultuous。 Just as his journey was not easy， some parts of the story were difficult to read and process。 It’s was not a difficult read， although there were some parts that seemed lost in translation。 I’m very grateful to have read this book。 ***Many thanks to #Netgalley for the free digital ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review。***
Victoria Dodge
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Gut-wrenching journeyNorth to Paradise could have been called From Darkness to Light。 The journey that Ousman made from Ghana to Spain was incredible and his documentation is phenomenal。 What a sensitive and well-documented story he has written。 If more Americans read this， I believe our approach to migrants would be significantly improved。 A must read！
Grace Baird
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it took two sittings to read this book， i couldn’t turn the pages fast enough！ his story of never giving up， pressing on despite all odds， and the kindness of others along the way are all reasons this book is worth the read。
Abigail Singrey
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"The desert is full of corpses， scattered among the dunes。"This nail-biting， engrossing memoir sweeps you away to Ghana and the illegal human smuggling route to Italy。 The horrific brutality of the conditions that Ousman had to survive are apparent from the very first sentence， including one harrowing trek through the desert where only six of the forty-six migrants survived。 Ousman is born into a small tribal village in Ghana， where his father is the shaman。 He loved his son enough to save his l "The desert is full of corpses， scattered among the dunes。"This nail-biting， engrossing memoir sweeps you away to Ghana and the illegal human smuggling route to Italy。 The horrific brutality of the conditions that Ousman had to survive are apparent from the very first sentence， including one harrowing trek through the desert where only six of the forty-six migrants survived。 Ousman is born into a small tribal village in Ghana， where his father is the shaman。 He loved his son enough to save his life， as children whose mothers die in childbirth are usually abandoned due to fear of a curse。 Yet he lied to his son about who his mother was and struggled to have any sort of connection with the child he saved。 Ousman grew up hearing fantastic tales about what he referred to as The Land of the Whites， and he became determined to go there。 At age twelve， he sets out， following the migrant route through Africa， the middle east， and finally， Europe。 The author uses a matter-of-fact tone to describe his circumstances， skimming over the emotions and exhaustion the circumstances must have created。 Ousman bounces from job to job， barely surviving， at one point pausing for four years in Benghazi， but each time he gets a little cash， he takes a step closer to his destination。 He finds and loses his friend Musa several times along the journey， telling him each time they separate， "I'll see you in the Land of the Whites。" The devastation and horror of his circumstances along the route are balanced by his joy and accomplishments once he finally settles in Barcelona， Spain。 This true story shed light on a struggle I knew little about: African migrants heading to Europe。 It's a riveting read。 Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more
Jacqueholst
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OutstandingThis book almost reads like an adventure novel。 A frightening， dangerous adventure that few would survive。 The dangerous five year journey from Ghana to Barcelona， Spain by a young boy， little more than a child， when he started his journey。 The cruelty and the kindness he met with and the amazing difference he ultimately made。 Highly recommended。
Marlene Krafchik
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AMAZING STORY。。。This story pulled at my heartstrings。 It is definitely a worthwhile book to read。 Ousman Umar is such an enlightening young man。 Somebody to be so proud of。。。
Jet
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A must read for everyone！This young man's journey is amazing and inspiring！Thank you for telling your story， unforgettable，we all need to help in any small way possible A must read for everyone！This young man's journey is amazing and inspiring！Thank you for telling your story， unforgettable，we all need to help in any small way possible 。。。more
Megan
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Eye openingCan't imagine enduring all that Ousman did to get to。a better life。 Then to turn around and help others， this is what the true meaning to life。 Eye openingCan't imagine enduring all that Ousman did to get to。a better life。 Then to turn around and help others， this is what the true meaning to life。 。。。more
Jennifer
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I’m humbled after reading this bookI’m literally crying happy tears after reading this book。 I could not put it down！ It is well written。 I hope that I can keep this message in my heart so that I don’t take my blessed life for granted。 I have always said that I am blessed to have been born in America。 We can’t pick where we are born。 I believe that if I had been born somewhere else I would walk to America。 This story helps me appreciate my life and I hope so much that someday I can help another I’m humbled after reading this bookI’m literally crying happy tears after reading this book。 I could not put it down！ It is well written。 I hope that I can keep this message in my heart so that I don’t take my blessed life for granted。 I have always said that I am blessed to have been born in America。 We can’t pick where we are born。 I believe that if I had been born somewhere else I would walk to America。 This story helps me appreciate my life and I hope so much that someday I can help another who is looking for what I have。 。。。more
Sara
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amazingIf I didn’t know this was a true story it would be impossible to believe。 His journey is incredible and he sounds like an awesome human。 Totally worth reading something from a very different lived experience。
Robin
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Heart warmingHe had an incredible journey。 I'm so glad that he survived with all the obstacles that were put before him。 Heart warmingHe had an incredible journey。 I'm so glad that he survived with all the obstacles that were put before him。 。。。more
Sandra Merlo
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The ultimate story of reading for your dreamsFew of us listen to the spiritual call with the certainty and hope of Ousman。 He lived what New Thought spirituality teaches， with faith and love。 Beset by fraud and dirty tricks， he seems to have looked at it all from the perspective of "Why is this happening for me？" His optimism rebounded after being chested， robbed， deceived， beaten， and starved。 Ousman was grateful for what he did have and more and better things came to him。 A beautiful story fro The ultimate story of reading for your dreamsFew of us listen to the spiritual call with the certainty and hope of Ousman。 He lived what New Thought spirituality teaches， with faith and love。 Beset by fraud and dirty tricks， he seems to have looked at it all from the perspective of "Why is this happening for me？" His optimism rebounded after being chested， robbed， deceived， beaten， and starved。 Ousman was grateful for what he did have and more and better things came to him。 A beautiful story from a beautiful and wise soul。 。。。more
Maria
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This book is an excellent example of persistency。 It was admirable how this 12 year-old was determined to travel to Europe， managing a series of obstacles， encountering danger， and defending himself against predators。 It a story that few have the heart to endure。 Fortunately he succeeded！！ I highly recommend it。
Shelby --
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Book 7: #ReadingBlackout for Feb。 ⭐ Rating: 5 stars📖 Format: ebook （Amazon First Reads）💭 Thoughts: Ousman's journey is nothing short of miraculous！ I can't even believe a child endured so much and lived to tell about it。He is the definition of perseverance and strength （with a sprinkle of luck 😉）。 I'm inspired！ Thank you Ousman for sharing your journey with the world。 🙌❤️Quotes: "One of the saddest things I learned on my journey is that in this life， no one gives you anything for free。""Given al Book 7: #ReadingBlackout for Feb。 ⭐ Rating: 5 stars📖 Format: ebook （Amazon First Reads）💭 Thoughts: Ousman's journey is nothing short of miraculous！ I can't even believe a child endured so much and lived to tell about it。He is the definition of perseverance and strength （with a sprinkle of luck 😉）。 I'm inspired！ Thank you Ousman for sharing your journey with the world。 🙌❤️Quotes: "One of the saddest things I learned on my journey is that in this life， no one gives you anything for free。""Given all the hardship I’ve experienced， it would be easy to think that the world is full of bad people， but I prefer to think that most people are good。 It’s just that the good people make less noise。" 。。。more
Brenda
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An almost unbelievable story of a young teen's story of leaving his small village in Ghana and traveling alone out of his country， across northern Africa， through the desert and across the ocean to Spain， all while going hungry， dealing with many people who wanted to take advantage of him， steal his money and even leave him for dead at times。 Finding a good family in Barcelona who took him in and helped him get an education， adopt him and encourage him to find a way to go back to Ghana to help e An almost unbelievable story of a young teen's story of leaving his small village in Ghana and traveling alone out of his country， across northern Africa， through the desert and across the ocean to Spain， all while going hungry， dealing with many people who wanted to take advantage of him， steal his money and even leave him for dead at times。 Finding a good family in Barcelona who took him in and helped him get an education， adopt him and encourage him to find a way to go back to Ghana to help educate children there so they never have to leave their country and suffer what he did。 Inspiring！ 。。。more
Nikki
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What an inspiring and heartbreaking story。 This young man went through hell and back to get to his "paradise"。 He is changing the way other children from his village now live in the hope they never have to go through what he did to fulfill his dream。 What an inspiring and heartbreaking story。 This young man went through hell and back to get to his "paradise"。 He is changing the way other children from his village now live in the hope they never have to go through what he did to fulfill his dream。 。。。more
C A Gentle
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I got this book free on amazon first reads。 I chose it to find out more about migrants reasons and the risks they are prepared to take to travel illegally to other countries， as well as learning about the dangerous journeys。 It was shocking to read about smugglers just dumping people in the middle of the desert; as well as making money out of others there was no intention to smuggle them at all。 The trials and tribulations endured by the author， who never gave up， was amazing and the fact he sta I got this book free on amazon first reads。 I chose it to find out more about migrants reasons and the risks they are prepared to take to travel illegally to other countries， as well as learning about the dangerous journeys。 It was shocking to read about smugglers just dumping people in the middle of the desert; as well as making money out of others there was no intention to smuggle them at all。 The trials and tribulations endured by the author， who never gave up， was amazing and the fact he started and continues to work to make things better for his home country so others won't feel the need to migrate is further testimony to the author's drive and ambition。 There are some interesting observations in the book about those who have and don't help others while those in terrible conditions and vastly exploited with nothing will share their last piece of bread。 The author points out a lot about humanity's greed but also the opposite。 It is an interesting read but one that for reasons I can't explain didn't grab me as I would have liked。 In some ways it was like reading a long factual article with little emotion but then the author was practical and learned from a young child that he needed to be like that and to keep moving forward。 。。。more
Sarah
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Wow - a real eye opener about the reasons a migrant attempts the dangerous journey to get to Europe， the hardships they face along the way and the fates of those who don't make it。 Wow - a real eye opener about the reasons a migrant attempts the dangerous journey to get to Europe， the hardships they face along the way and the fates of those who don't make it。 。。。more
sondra lee klepper
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North to paradiseI really enjoyed reading About this brave young boy who endured so much hardship and survived。 Made me realize the unfairness of life and also the goodness of life。 So。happy he made it。
Joyce Giltz
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