Paperback edition of Eggers' acclaimed portrayal of one boy's courage in the midst of one the world's most violent conflicts, the war in Sudan. From the author of }A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius{ and }You Shall Know Our Velocity{, Eggers is also the editor of the literary journal }McSweeney's{. 'Read Dave Eggers' }What Is The What{ - it's the best book of the year' }Guardian At the heart of this astonishing novel is a true story of courage and endurance in the face of one of the most brutal civil wars the world has ever known. Valentino Achak Deng is just a boy when conflict separates him from his family and forces him to leave his small Sudanese village, joining thousands of other orphans on their long, long walk to Ethiopia, where they find safety for a time. Along the way Valentino encounters enemy soldiers, liberation rebels and deadly militias, hyenas and lions, disease and starvation. But there are experiences ahead that will test his spirit in even greater ways than theseTruly epic in scope, and told with expansive humanity, deep compassion and unexpected humour, What is the What is an eye-opening account of life amid the madness of war and an unforgettable tale of tragedy and triumph.