Eight Days

From National Book Award nominee Edwidge Danticat comes a timely, brilliantly crafted story of hope and imagination — a powerful tribute to Haiti and children around the world.

Hope comes alive in this heartfelt and deeply resonating story.

While Junior is trapped for eight days beneath his collapsed house after an earthquake, he uses his imagination for comfort. Drawing on beautiful, everyday-life memories, Junior paints a sparkling picture of Haiti for each of those days — flying kites with his best friend or racing his sister around St. Marc's Square — helping him through the tragedy until he is finally rescued.

Love and hope dance across each page — granting us a way to talk about resilience as a family, a classroom, or a friend.

Praise for Eight Days: A Story of Haiti

"Using rich acrylics and thick brushwork, Delinois (Haiti-born, like the author) creates active, emotionally charged playscapes from which the narrator often looks up gravely, making steady eye contact with viewers as if to say: I am strong enough for this. Danticat closes this powerful, affirmative statement with an eloquent author’s note." — Kirkus, starred review

Find out more—explore these resources:

NPR Morning Edition segment

NPR’s Read an Excerpt

Listen to NPR interview with the author

Publisher’s Weekly article

Huffington Post article

Information about IRC: International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.

Li, Li, Li! Reading Out Loud to Haiti's Displaced Children