Purpose 

The purpose of summer reading is to engage students in an enjoyable experience that

maintains and fosters literacy. Antonian proudly announces its summer 2020  "One School, One Book," as we all read Left To Tell. This memoir tells the miraculous story of surviving genocide and discovering God amidst the Rwanda n Holocaust. In these times, when resilience is so necessary and love and respect of every human being is long overdue, we hope to gain some valuable insights from this story.

Immaculee Ilibagiza grew up in a country she loved, surrounded by a family she cherished. But in 1994 her idyllic world was ripped apart as Rwanda descended into a bloody genocide. Immaculee's family was brutally murdered during a killing spree that lasted three months and claimed the lives of nearly a million Rwandans.

Incredibly, Immaculee survived the slaughter. For 91 days, she and seven other women huddled silently together in the cramped bathroom of a local pastor, while hundreds of machete-wielding killers hunted for them. It was during those endless hours of unspeakable terror that Immaculee discovered the power of prayer, eventually shedding her fear of death and forging a profound and lasting relationship with God. She emerged from her bathroom hideout having discovered the meaning of truly unconditional love-a love so strong she was able seek out and forgive her family's killers. The triumphant story of this remarkable young woman's journey through the darkness of genocide will inspire anyone whose life has been touched by fear, suffering, and loss. (Publisher's description)

All students are expected to read the novel before the first day of school so that they are ready to engage with the book through faculty-led discussions once school has started. All reading must be completed by August 18, 2020. Students are expected to bring their books that day.