The seemingly never-ending Cabinda War (1975—) has left multitudes dead in its wake and thousands of children homeless and orphaned.

Jackaleena N’denga, a young Angolan girl, has become the sole survivor of one specifically brutal village massacre carried out by a band of guerrilla boy-soldiers.

Jackaleena’s resilience leads her to an orphanage on the west coast of Africa, known as Benguela by the Sea, where she and other children are taken in and protected. Her brilliant mind and endless questions capture the heart of her mentor, Margaret, who ensures her that her survival thus far—especially being the survivor from her village—must mean she has big things ahead of her. When the opportunity arises, she must find her purpose.

Not without a plan, Jackaleena stows away on a mercy ship that has made its yearly visit to the orphanage and is now preparing to return to America. Her journey takes her across the ocean, into the arms of New York City’s customs officials, and finally into placement in a temporary foster home in Texas.

Enter Alfie Carter—a workaholic, small-town detective who is also battling memories of his past. His life is forever changed when he meets a young African girl looking for her higher purpose.

Purchase: Skyhorse Publishing

As I began reading this book I saw two parallel stories, never imagining the twist that would happen to artistically weave them together.  Jackaleena is a young girl with an iron will and the sole survivor of her village.  She bravely finds a way to not only continue through the atrocities being carried out in African villages, but also finds her purpose. Her story is told in a sensible manner from the eyes of a sheltered but mature beyond her years person.

Alfie – not Alfred – is a wounded man.  As a workaholic detective with a struggling marriage, he is more comfortable alone with his truck in the hills of West Texas than around people.  Alfie’s story is told in the manner of a good tale that I could imagine hearing from a storyteller while sitting near a campfire under the wide Texas sky.

On the fringes of their lives are several characters that enhance not only the development of the characters but the story itself.  From Alfie’s wife Bea, wounded and trying to find her way, to his partner, Cotton,  who we briefly meet and then see the continuing impact he has on Alfie.  Along with a subplot of a possible suicide of a local teen we get great insight into this character. Jackaleena has support from brief but impactful characters that help and lead her on her path.  From a young man who loses his life to help her be safe to a ship’s laundry worker and many others.

While there are a lot of harsh edges to the lives and environments these characters are living in, the story itself is told in a smooth, winding path that the reader can easily follow and enjoy.