Finding Chika: A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family
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- Create Date：2021-07-19 06:51:51
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Mitch Albom
- ISBN：0062952404
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Summary
"Mitch Albom has done it again with this moving memoir of love and loss。 You can’t help but fall for Chika。 A page-turner that will no doubt become a classic。” --Mary Karr， author of The Liars’ Club and The Art of Memoir
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Tuesdays With Morrie comes Mitch Albom’s most personal story to date: an intimate and heartwarming memoir about what it means to be a family and the young Haitian orphan whose short life would forever change his heart。
Chika Jeune was born three days before the devastating earthquake that decimated Haiti in 2010。 She spent her infancy in a landscape of extreme poverty， and when her mother died giving birth to a baby brother， Chika was brought to The Have Faith Haiti Orphanage that Albom operates in Port Au Prince。
With no children of their own， the forty-plus children who live， play， and go to school at the orphanage have become family to Mitch and his wife， Janine。 Chika’s arrival makes a quick impression。 Brave and self-assured， even as a three-year-old， she delights the other kids and teachers。 But at age five， Chika is suddenly diagnosed with something a doctor there says， “No one in Haiti can help you with。”
Mitch and Janine bring Chika to Detroit， hopeful that American medical care can soon return her to her homeland。 Instead， Chika becomes a permanent part of their household， and their lives， as they embark on a two-year， around-the-world journey to find a cure。 As Chika’s boundless optimism and humor teach Mitch the joys of caring for a child， he learns that a relationship built on love， no matter what blows it takes， can never be lost。
Told in hindsight， and through illuminating conversations with Chika herself， this is Albom at his most poignant and vulnerable。 Finding Chika is a celebration of a girl， her adoptive guardians， and the incredible bond they formed—a devastatingly beautiful portrait of what it means to be a family， regardless of how it is made。
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Tuesdays With Morrie comes Mitch Albom’s most personal story to date: an intimate and heartwarming memoir about what it means to be a family and the young Haitian orphan whose short life would forever change his heart。
Chika Jeune was born three days before the devastating earthquake that decimated Haiti in 2010。 She spent her infancy in a landscape of extreme poverty， and when her mother died giving birth to a baby brother， Chika was brought to The Have Faith Haiti Orphanage that Albom operates in Port Au Prince。
With no children of their own， the forty-plus children who live， play， and go to school at the orphanage have become family to Mitch and his wife， Janine。 Chika’s arrival makes a quick impression。 Brave and self-assured， even as a three-year-old， she delights the other kids and teachers。 But at age five， Chika is suddenly diagnosed with something a doctor there says， “No one in Haiti can help you with。”
Mitch and Janine bring Chika to Detroit， hopeful that American medical care can soon return her to her homeland。 Instead， Chika becomes a permanent part of their household， and their lives， as they embark on a two-year， around-the-world journey to find a cure。 As Chika’s boundless optimism and humor teach Mitch the joys of caring for a child， he learns that a relationship built on love， no matter what blows it takes， can never be lost。
Told in hindsight， and through illuminating conversations with Chika herself， this is Albom at his most poignant and vulnerable。 Finding Chika is a celebration of a girl， her adoptive guardians， and the incredible bond they formed—a devastatingly beautiful portrait of what it means to be a family， regardless of how it is made。
Reviews
Shawn
，
The book brought tears to my eyes。 Hard to read when the death of a child is involved but Albom does a good job in making it more about the joy in having loved Chika than the tragedy in losing Chika。 Still there's no way around the sadness。 The book brought tears to my eyes。 Hard to read when the death of a child is involved but Albom does a good job in making it more about the joy in having loved Chika than the tragedy in losing Chika。 Still there's no way around the sadness。 。。。more
Trudy Roy
，
This is the story of Mitch Albom taking a sick girl from his orphanage in Haiti home to America for medical treatment and creating a family。 It’s well done and talks both of the medical journey and the incredible girl that Chika was。 It’s focused on the life lessons that he learned from the experience。 The most profound statement - you cannot ever lose a child。 God gives you a child。 I am so impressed how Mitch has used his privilege in the world to do good。 He took over the running of an orphan This is the story of Mitch Albom taking a sick girl from his orphanage in Haiti home to America for medical treatment and creating a family。 It’s well done and talks both of the medical journey and the incredible girl that Chika was。 It’s focused on the life lessons that he learned from the experience。 The most profound statement - you cannot ever lose a child。 God gives you a child。 I am so impressed how Mitch has used his privilege in the world to do good。 He took over the running of an orphanage in Haiti after the earthquake。 How impressive。 。。。more
Jean
，
This is a heart-aching， yet tender "must-read" memoir of Chika， a Haitian survivor of the 2010 earthquake， and the family she helped mold。 There is charm and humor interspersed with the struggle to save a life threatened with incurable brain cancer。 This is a heart-aching， yet tender "must-read" memoir of Chika， a Haitian survivor of the 2010 earthquake， and the family she helped mold。 There is charm and humor interspersed with the struggle to save a life threatened with incurable brain cancer。 。。。more
Cristina
，
Another great book by Mitch Albom。 I am glad I got the audiobook as it has audio of Chika herself and its adorable to hear her voice throughout the book。
Marcy
，
Sweet story of hope and connection。 Highly recommend the audiobook。
Hoenese Ruebesch
，
Touching story of faith and hope。 No matter how much the odds are against you， at least you have God to turn to。
Michele
，
This story wasn't what I expected， but it will stay with me for a long time。 It was full of love and laughter and heartbreak， and like all of his other books， left me in tears。 This story wasn't what I expected， but it will stay with me for a long time。 It was full of love and laughter and heartbreak， and like all of his other books， left me in tears。 。。。more
Niki
，
it's the sick kid who's a fighter trope3。5 stars it's the sick kid who's a fighter trope3。5 stars 。。。more
John Maurer
，
Unbelievably beautiful！ Like all of his writings， Albom sure knows how to pull on the heartstrings with this new memoir。 Such a heartbreaking yet powerful story about Chika Jeune， the strength of children and the coming together of a family。 The ultimate message is that none of us is guaranteed tomorrow; it’s what we do today that makes an impact。 Love。 Love uncontrollably and show that love to those closest to you。 Love conquers all and will be with us forever。
Michael Scheer
，
Don't read it on a plane！ Don't read it on a plane！ 。。。more
Sheila
，
Finding Chicka makes one stop and think about how fast our lives can change and how we handle the change。 I read this while flying home from seeing my parents after 2 years - it's hard to read something that brings you to tears with mask on！ Thank you Mitch for a book that will stay with me forever！ Finding Chicka makes one stop and think about how fast our lives can change and how we handle the change。 I read this while flying home from seeing my parents after 2 years - it's hard to read something that brings you to tears with mask on！ Thank you Mitch for a book that will stay with me forever！ 。。。more
Carol Haile
，
If this book doesn’t break your heart and also help mend it…I don’t even know what to say。 I’m a fan of Mitch Albom。 His writing and books make me pause and really think about issues。 This one is no different。 You will fall in love with Chika， who was born 3 days before the Haitian earthquake。 Her mother subsequently dies during childbirth of her younger brother and Chika lands in the Have Faith Haiti Orphanage， operated by Albom。 Finding Chika reminds us of the strength and resiliency of childr If this book doesn’t break your heart and also help mend it…I don’t even know what to say。 I’m a fan of Mitch Albom。 His writing and books make me pause and really think about issues。 This one is no different。 You will fall in love with Chika， who was born 3 days before the Haitian earthquake。 Her mother subsequently dies during childbirth of her younger brother and Chika lands in the Have Faith Haiti Orphanage， operated by Albom。 Finding Chika reminds us of the strength and resiliency of children， the lessons they teach us as adults and a portrayal of what a family is， regardless of bloodlines。 Get your coupon snd go buy some Kleenex。 I got it off the “It’s Your Lucky Day” shelf at the Lake Mary Library。 It’s going back today so it could be your Lucky Day！ 。。。more
June Oh
，
This is one of the most powerful and heartfelt books I’ve ever read。 The perspective a parent is truly unimaginable when it comes to the loss a child。 I cried several times throughout the read。 “Finding Chika” is a book that everyone must read。
Rick Medina
，
Beautiful ChikaThis was a beautiful story of love。 I cried and sometimes giggled at Chika's personality and how children can change our lives for the better 。 Thank God ！ Beautiful ChikaThis was a beautiful story of love。 I cried and sometimes giggled at Chika's personality and how children can change our lives for the better 。 Thank God ！ 。。。more
Samuel Thurston
，
This was a very tough read。 Beautiful， humorous， touching， heart-breaking read。 Tough。 But worth it。Mitch really seems to open up and be vulnerable with all his readers about his families struggle with his daughter’s DIPG。 This work has the same reflective， soft writing style he displayed in Tuesdays with Morrie。Mitch’s story struck a chord with me because I had become very close with a little girl， Jemima， on a mission trip to Haiti when I was 16。 We built her family a house， but I slacked off This was a very tough read。 Beautiful， humorous， touching， heart-breaking read。 Tough。 But worth it。Mitch really seems to open up and be vulnerable with all his readers about his families struggle with his daughter’s DIPG。 This work has the same reflective， soft writing style he displayed in Tuesdays with Morrie。Mitch’s story struck a chord with me because I had become very close with a little girl， Jemima， on a mission trip to Haiti when I was 16。 We built her family a house， but I slacked off building way more than I should have so I could play with her and watch her。 Saying goodbye to her was the hardest part about that trip。 I often wonder where she’s at now， and how she’s doing。 If everything is well she should be about 14 or so now。 I genuinely hope Mitch， Janine， Moïse， Mirlanda， and every child at the Have Faith Haiti Mission are doing well now。 And of course， I really recommend to everyone to give this book a read。 。。。more
Michelle
，
I will give this book 10 stars if I could。 This is - for now - Mitch Albom's most personal book。 It hurts reading each page but I'm glad I read it。 I will give this book 10 stars if I could。 This is - for now - Mitch Albom's most personal book。 It hurts reading each page but I'm glad I read it。 。。。more
Lily
，
Mitch Albom， who is a sports writer and a prolific writer， founded an orphanage in Haiti。 This memoir is about him bringing home an aged 5 orphan girl because she developed a brain tumor。 The MRI in Haiti was not conclusive， and he didn't trust medical treatment there。 He pays out of pocket for her advanced medical treatment in the USA。 What I find kind of strange is that he keeps referring to visits he gets from Chika （the orphan） after she dies。 She can touch him and talk to him， but he can't Mitch Albom， who is a sports writer and a prolific writer， founded an orphanage in Haiti。 This memoir is about him bringing home an aged 5 orphan girl because she developed a brain tumor。 The MRI in Haiti was not conclusive， and he didn't trust medical treatment there。 He pays out of pocket for her advanced medical treatment in the USA。 What I find kind of strange is that he keeps referring to visits he gets from Chika （the orphan） after she dies。 She can touch him and talk to him， but he can't touch her。 He says it might be just his imagination toward the end of the book。 She has been given about 4 months to live， but with lots of medical intervention she lives almost 2 years。 I'm not sure how I feel about prolonged painful treatment and side effects， but that was his and his wife's choice to do。 They put off having children of their own until it was too late because of age。 He states several times that he made the decision to delay having children because it would interfere with his career and lifestyle。 So， he and his wife cling to this little girl， getting satisfaction of being "parents"。 He states that anyone who met Chika really adored her。 Other times， he states how domineering and bossy and demanding that she was--but， they pretty much overlooked that， even going so far as to think it was endearing。 。。。more
Ruthanne
，
Keep your Kleenex box close as you read this story。
Stephanie Lynn
，
This was one of the most moving books I have ever read。 Maybe it is because I have been on 3 mission trips to Haiti。 I felt some of the emotions that Mitch felt loving the children there。 I couldn't put the book down but grab a box of kleenex， you will need it。 This was one of the most moving books I have ever read。 Maybe it is because I have been on 3 mission trips to Haiti。 I felt some of the emotions that Mitch felt loving the children there。 I couldn't put the book down but grab a box of kleenex， you will need it。 。。。more
Kim
，
inspiring love for a beautiful little girl！
Angeli
，
Beautiful。 I would recommend listening to the audio， as you get recordings by Mitch's daughter， Chika。 This is a beautiful story of adoption， loss， and love。 Beautiful。 I would recommend listening to the audio， as you get recordings by Mitch's daughter， Chika。 This is a beautiful story of adoption， loss， and love。 。。。more
Diane Burton
，
A heartbreaking story of love found then lost。 A child from Haiti and her new family。 Mitch Albom has a way of writing about death and dying that is heart wrenching but not maudlin。 I admit I cried at the end。
mira。
，
first MA book that feels different from his other books that I've ever read。 first MA book that feels different from his other books that I've ever read。 。。。more
Bela Hakim
，
CRY WORTHY
Tom Gase
，
An emotional story about a young girl， Chika， that author Mitch Albom and his wife were parents to for a few years。 Some heartwarming stories but in the end I felt I had read this book before and it was called Tuesdays with Morrie or half of The Time Keeper。 That being said， I loved the young girl Chika and found myself laughing and crying at many things she said。 Not bad， but not Albom's best （5 People You Meet in Heaven）。 An emotional story about a young girl， Chika， that author Mitch Albom and his wife were parents to for a few years。 Some heartwarming stories but in the end I felt I had read this book before and it was called Tuesdays with Morrie or half of The Time Keeper。 That being said， I loved the young girl Chika and found myself laughing and crying at many things she said。 Not bad， but not Albom's best （5 People You Meet in Heaven）。 。。。more
Kym's Open Books
，
Albom always has those thought-provoking books and I highly recommend this one！ He tells you right off that Chika died from an illness and then tells you all about her。 He runs an orphanage in Haiti and Chika was one of the children。 She was diagnosed with a rare illness and he tells of traveling the world to fight it。 More importantly， he tells of the bond that grew between him， his wife and this child。 It is a beautifully written story about love。 Truly， it’s hopeful and heartbreaking and hear Albom always has those thought-provoking books and I highly recommend this one！ He tells you right off that Chika died from an illness and then tells you all about her。 He runs an orphanage in Haiti and Chika was one of the children。 She was diagnosed with a rare illness and he tells of traveling the world to fight it。 More importantly， he tells of the bond that grew between him， his wife and this child。 It is a beautifully written story about love。 Truly， it’s hopeful and heartbreaking and heartwarming。 Chika will find a way into your heart and hold on。 I’m just going to leave a bunch of quotes here for my review。 I don’t like to give a star rating to memoirs but know that this was fabulous！“It takes a special strength to take care of a child， Chika， and a whole different strength to admit you cannot。”“Dying is only one thing to be sad about， Mitch。 Living unhappily is something else。”“The most precious thing you can give someone is your time， Chika， because you can never get it back。 When you don’t think about getting it back， you’ve given it in love。”Thank you @HarperCollins for the gifted copy！Check my blog for the full review and more quotes！https://www。theopenbooks。net/2021/07/。。。 。。。more
Nursifa Aghnia
，
Mitch Albom apparently is an author I found "wooooow， he's good"。 The story about Chika breaks my heart， yet inspires me。 Maybe sometimes I felt a little bit overwhelmed to read a story about Chika and her family's struggle， but in the end I was curious of how did they go through it。 Mitch Albom apparently is an author I found "wooooow， he's good"。 The story about Chika breaks my heart， yet inspires me。 Maybe sometimes I felt a little bit overwhelmed to read a story about Chika and her family's struggle， but in the end I was curious of how did they go through it。 。。。more
Kristen Pearless
，
Tearfully Beautiful"A child is both an anchor and a set of wings"。。。 Tearfully Beautiful"A child is both an anchor and a set of wings"。。。 。。。more
Susan Spencer
，
This book unleashed many emotions。 I cried and cried but so worth the read。 The most heartwarming book that I've ever read。 Many life lessons。 Mitch at his best！！ This book unleashed many emotions。 I cried and cried but so worth the read。 The most heartwarming book that I've ever read。 Many life lessons。 Mitch at his best！！ 。。。more
Melissa Sinclair
，