About this item
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 hardnosed and warmhearted woman, the children she helps, and the twists of fate they experience together. The subplot of Gladys's garden - her precarious dream of providing a home and livelihood for her vulnerable charges - adds fascinating depth. 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.
About the Author
JESSICA YU grew up in California. A fifth-generation Chinese American, she was blessed with parents who were fine with their kids going into the arts. As a filmmaker, Yu is known for both her scripted and nonfiction work, which includes the Academy Award-winning short BREATHING LESSONS. Her films span a wide range of genres and styles, from documentaries like LAST CALL AT THE OASIS, a look at the global water crisis, to IN THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL, a portrait of outsider artist Henry Darger. She has also directed various shows, including "American Crime," "13 Reasons Why" and "The West Wing," and Maria Bamford's Netflix comedy special, "Old Baby." Her work has garnered various awards, including an Emmy and a Writers Guild of America nomination.GARDEN OF THE LOST AND ABANDONED is her first book. It was honored by the Nautilus Book Awards as the 2017 Gold Winner in the category of Women.To find out more, visit jessicayu.net.Twitter: @jessicayuauthor
