Main Characters
Benson Deng is a South Sudanese writer and one of the lost boys of Sudan. He was part of the Dinka tribe and traveled thousands of miles across Sudan to Ethiopia. In Ethiopia he learned the English alphabet. Shortly after he was forces out with a promise of going to a safe camp but instead he was found doing manual labor. Gladly he escaped. He reached Kenya and met his family and began his education again. He had disease called River Blindness which meant instead of attending class he would have to teach himself. He arrived in America on August 9th, 2001. He is the oldest brother and he writes stories in his journal about his life in Sudan for his mentor.
Benjamin Ajak is also one of the lost boys of Sudan. Benjamin was Benson and Alephosion’s cousin. He was seven when he first started to leave Sudan. Benjamin spends all of his experiences with his cousins Benson and Alepho. Benson looks much like his cousins and writes in a journal about his memories also.
Alephonsion Deng is the brother of Benson Deng and a Lost Boy of Sudan. He is the youngest of the boys in the story and is the most sensitive. He was only seven when his village was attacked and he was forced to run away from his parents and make the dangerous journey into Ethiopia. After five years of constant moving through hostile territory, Alepho made it to the Kakuma camp in Kenya. It was in Kakuma where he started his real education. In 2001, the United States government welcomed Alephonsion, his brother Benson, and his cousin Benjamin into the United States to seek refuge from the war in Sudan.
Cliff is the boys guide on their journey into America. He is very fascinated about the boys' behavior when they first arrive because they are very quiet and cautious. He was very curious of how the boys came to America and their journeys in Sudan and the surrounding areas. Cliff also asked the boys what happened to their parents. Overall, Cliff is an intrigued but caring man who is just looking out for the boys.
Benjamin Ajak is also one of the lost boys of Sudan. Benjamin was Benson and Alephosion’s cousin. He was seven when he first started to leave Sudan. Benjamin spends all of his experiences with his cousins Benson and Alepho. Benson looks much like his cousins and writes in a journal about his memories also.
Alephonsion Deng is the brother of Benson Deng and a Lost Boy of Sudan. He is the youngest of the boys in the story and is the most sensitive. He was only seven when his village was attacked and he was forced to run away from his parents and make the dangerous journey into Ethiopia. After five years of constant moving through hostile territory, Alepho made it to the Kakuma camp in Kenya. It was in Kakuma where he started his real education. In 2001, the United States government welcomed Alephonsion, his brother Benson, and his cousin Benjamin into the United States to seek refuge from the war in Sudan.
Cliff is the boys guide on their journey into America. He is very fascinated about the boys' behavior when they first arrive because they are very quiet and cautious. He was very curious of how the boys came to America and their journeys in Sudan and the surrounding areas. Cliff also asked the boys what happened to their parents. Overall, Cliff is an intrigued but caring man who is just looking out for the boys.