Whattttt??? #3 Alissa WInkler

What is the What never had the ultimately happy part that I was expecting in the last third. And surprisingly, I am ok with that. What is the What is not suppose to be a happy book, it is a true and painful story that leaves you with a sense of hope. It is a miracle Valentino Achak Deng lived and was getting a second chance at life. He grabbed the opportunity to leave Kakuma by the horns and even though a complete stranger to the USA, he made it work best he could. His life in Atlanta may have seemed horrible at times, but compared to life in the "Walking Boys"group he had left, he was incredibly thankful. He learned valuable skills, got a job, got sponsored, and went to school. Everything thing is new to Achak Deng, the world is confusing but he is getting by. He even manages to cope with the loss of the love of his life Tabitha who is brutally murdered by her boyfriend. And still, at the end of the book, he chooses to keep his hope alive and move on with his life. "The heavens have been a hammer to me, and I will be moving, as soon as I am able, to a quieter place. A place where I can spend some time thinking. I nee to make some new plans without the eyes of these clouds over me"(533). Achak acknowledges his past but has learned not to let the horrible memories and cruelties of the world set him back or stop him. He is not extremely excited to leave but he knows it is for the best, he knows he has hope. The question of what the "what" actually is pops up throughout the whole book. The Dinka people chose the cows. I believe this was a smart choice, because if they chose the "what" then why would be getting something they already have. I think the "What" is hope. And Achak has had the "What" all along. He is still alive and still hopeful. 

My favorite part of the book was when Achak mets the man who does not exist. Achak has been walking for months and has received a huge gash on his leg; he thinks he will die within the next days from infection and lack of food. Then a mysterious man appears out of nowhere and takes him into his home. The man lives alone in hiding, he's escaping from the world but seems to have bountiful food supplies under his house. He gives Achak nuts, water, and an orange and is extremely pleasant. Achak even feels comfortable enough to ask him if he knows what the "what" is, and the man replies "keep looking." I have a strange feeling this mysterious man is suppose to represent Jesus. Anyways, in his home is also the exact same bicycle that as children, he, moses, and William K had guarded with aw. I love how even though Achak has been exhausted and beaten up mentally and physically from walking for months, he is finally given the chance to ride the bike. He gets to feel free again and regain a small portion of his childhood that had been demolished by the war.