The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After

The Girl Who Smiled Beads

• Genre: Nonfiction; Memoir; Autobiography
• Originally Published: 2018
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile HL800L; College/Adult
• Structure/Length: The memoir is divided into several chapters that alternate between Wamariya's experiences in Rwanda and her life in the United States; approximately 288 pages; audiobook length varies by edition.
• Central Concern: The Girl Who Smiled Beads recounts Clemantine Wamariya’s harrowing experience of the Rwandan genocide and her subsequent journey as a refugee. At six years old, Wamariya and her sister fled Rwanda, spending the next six years migrating through seven African countries, searching for safety. The memoir vividly portrays the impact of war and displacement, delving into themes of identity, resilience, and the search for belonging. Wamariya also reflects on her life after moving to the United States, exploring how her past experiences continue to shape her understanding of herself and the world around her.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Graphic descriptions of violence and war; themes of trauma and loss; depictions of the harsh realities faced by refugees.

Clemantine Wamariya, Author

• Bio: Born 1988 in Rwanda; human rights advocate; became a refugee during the Rwandan genocide; granted asylum in the United States in 2000; graduated from Yale University; has worked to raise awareness about genocide and refugee issues.
• Other Works: The Girl Who Smiled Beads is Wamariya's debut and primary work, detailing her personal journey and advocacy.

Elizabeth Weil, Co-Author

• Bio: American author and journalist; known for her work in various publications, including The New York Times Magazine; specializes in writing personal narratives and stories on social and cultural issues.
• Other Works: Author of No Cheating, No Dying: I Had a Good Marriage. Then I Tried To Make It Better
• Awards: Winner of the 2019 ALA/YALSA Alex Award.

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Dehumanization and Loss of Identity
• The Reality of Life as a Refugee
• Survival
• Kindness and Ulterior Motivations
• The Subjugation of Women
• Privilege in America
• The Colonization and Abandonment of Rwanda

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Gain an understanding of the historical and sociopolitical contexts around European colonization in Africa, the legacy of which sets the stage for Wamariya’s memoir.
• Analyze paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Dehumanization, Life as a Refugee, Survival, Kindness, The Subjugation of Women, Privilege in America, and The Colonization of Rwanda.
• Research current anti-refugee attitudes and, in small groups, craft rebuttals that draw from the lessons in The Girl Who Smiled Beads.
• Analyze and evaluate the author’s purpose and techniques to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding Wamariya’s relationship to the written word, her struggle to assimilate into American culture, and other topics.