Garden of the Lost and Abandoned: The Extraordinary Story of One Ordinary Woman and the Children She Saves - Paperback

by Jessica Yu (Author)

The problem by most lights is overwhelming: at least 5,000 children live on the streets of Uganda's capital city of Kampala. Some forget the names of their villages. The youngest may not know the names of their parents. But Gladys Kalibbala--part journalist, part detective, part Good Samaritan--does not hesitate to dive into difficult or even dangerous situations to aid a child. Author of a newspaper column called "Lost and Abandoned," she is a resource that police and others turn to when they stumble across a stranded kid with a hidden history.

Jessica Yu delivers an acutely observed story of this hard-nosed and warm-hearted woman, the children she helps, and her precarious dream of providing a home and livelihood for her vulnerable charges. Garden of the Lost and Abandoned chronicles one woman's altruism, both ordinary and extraordinary, in a way that is impossible to forget, and impossible not to take to heart.

"This beautiful, unforgettable story will break your heart and then leave you awed by the human capacity for kindness." -- Imbolo Mbue, author of Behold the Dreamers

"[Yu] reminds us that it's possible to make the world a better place one child at a time." -- Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed

"This heartfelt book should be on a list of the best uplifting true stories." -- Shelf Awareness

"Jessica Yu's compelling writing and her filmmaker's eye paint a vivid picture of urban Kampala and allow us to walk in Gladys's shoes . . . Garden of the Lost and Abandoned renews my faith in humanity." -- Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone

Thousands of children lost on the streets of Kampala. One woman who makes it her mission to bring them home.

• An Inspiring True Story: Meet Gladys Kalibbala--part journalist, part detective--a relentless advocate who dives into Kampala's dangerous streets to reunite families, one child at a time.
• Social Justice in Action: Discover the power of a newspaper column, "Lost and Abandoned," that becomes an unlikely resource for police and a beacon of hope for thousands of vulnerable children.
• Against the Odds: Follow Gladys's precarious dream of building a home and a future for her charges in the face of overwhelming poverty, bureaucracy, and indifference.
• A Heartbreaking and Uplifting Journey: Experience a story that will, in the words of Imbolo Mbue, "break your heart and then leave you awed by the human capacity for kindness."

Author Biography

JESSICA YU is a prolific filmmaker known for both her scripted and nonfiction work, which includes the Academy Award-winning short Breathing Lessons. Her documentaries have focused on art, social justice, and the environment.