Auma's Long Run

Thirteen-year-old Auma lives in a small AIDS-ridden Kenyan village, and her love for running and education secures her a high school scholarship, which Auma sees as a chance to leave her village, become a doctor, and return to heal those dying from AIDS. But, when her parents die of AIDS, Auma has to make a difficult decision: stay in school to become a doctor, or abandon her dream to provide food and education for her siblings. The novel deals with issues of the global effects of diseases, women’s roles in society, gender equality, motherhood, and the right to an education, that can be explored through discussion and reflection, response, comparison, and contrast activities.