100 Days

Inspired by a survivor of the event, this collection of poems provides a backwards narrative of one hundred days of the Rwandan genocide. Telling stories through poems as both a witness and a storyteller, the poet emphasizes silence and plays with the perception of time, helping readers understand genocides around the world as well as the complexity of the conflict in Rwanda. Suitable for mature secondary students, “100 Days” provides a perspective that is beyond a textbook description of the historical events it highlights. Appropriate for independent reading, this poetry book can also be used in the classroom to evoke empathetic responses, to inspire poetry writing, and to supplement lessons about the genocides or the Rwandan genocide, in particular.