Ch. 15-20 (Determination)

Jal has been waiting forever for his time to shine on the battle field. He was determined to fight and fighting is what he wanted to do. "I want to kill Arabs." (Pg. 145) After all these months and efforts Jal has put into working towards being a child soldier he is still longed from killing his enemy which brought him here in the first place. Although Jal is determined to fight something is holding him back, the Captain. "You are too small for battle, Jal there are tankers, minefields, and big weapons." (Pg. 146) His determination and fight paid off when he finally reaches the battlefield. Jal's determination brought upon what he wanted but lets not forget how this adventure really started. Jal wanted to go to school, he wanted to fly that was the one goal he had in mind. When Jal escapes from Kurki 1 to go find another battle which has who he is looking to attack in Waat, he is determined to get there no matter what the case. Throughout the time Jal is travelling through the desert he is faced with challenges which he has overcome. Could it be is belief and faith towards his God, because luck must be on his side because Jal is "just one of about a dozen who'd survived the desert from Juba." (Pg. 174) Is he a miracle child? A few days after Jal arrives in Waat a women who goes by the name Emma starts to school Jal and takes him away from war. This is what Jal has been determined to do for so long, go to school. As much as Jal wants to be back in war to kill the Arabs, Emma assures Jal that, "You are too small to live in war, too young to see the things you have." (Pg. 179) Emma finally takes Jal away from war and brings him into her life. Jal is learning to speak English now through school and learn new things about others culture that he never learnt in war. Although this seems like the ultimate joy for Jal, he misses war and this world isn't for him. "I didn't understand this world and I never would." (Pg. 184)

Jal's determination and fight finally got him what he wanted originally. He wanted to go to school. Jal is determined with everything he does and is why he gets to where he is in the book now. This is Jal's strength and has the right mindset. What if Jal had fallen like his two friends Lam and Lual? He understands what needs to be done to survive and is the ultimate reason why Emma was able to take Jal away from war. He was able to make it to Waat without falling.