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9 Kilometers - Diverse Reads

9 Kilometers

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A memorable, compelling story about the perseverance of a child and the human right to education.

The sky is still dark when a young boy leaves home for school. He has a long path ahead: nine kilometers—over five-and-a-half miles—through the mountains and rain forests of Chile. But the boy doesn’t mind. While he walks, he can count butterflies and lizards, and he can think about where the 15,000 steps he takes every morning could lead. Nine kilometers could bring the boy across ninety soccer fields, up the world’s ten largest buildings, or into a classroom at last…


Set against the lush backdrop of southern Chile, this book features one of the many children around the world who travel long distances in order to go to school. After the story, thoughtfully illustrated back matter explores the unique birds of Chile and the courage of similar students’ journeys in other countries. Striking and timely, 9 Kilometers will open lasting conversations about social inequalities, the value of learning, and the resilience of those who push past obstacles toward a better future.

ISBN-13: 9780802856005

Media Type: Hardcover

Publisher: Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company

Publication Date: 02-28-2023

Pages: 56

Product Dimensions: 8.66(w) x 9.50(h) x (d)

Age Range: 5 - 9 Years

Series: Stories from Latin America

Claudio Aguilera is an award-winning Chilean journalist and children's writer. 9 Kilometers was shaped by his childhood memories of long, long walks to school and the pride his ten-year-old self felt after receiving an award for perfect attendance. The Spanish version of this book was selected for the 2021 White Ravens catalog and was named the 2021 children's category winner of the Chilean Ministry of Culture's Marta Brunet Award. 9 Kilometers is Claudio's English- language debut. Visit the book's Spanish-language website at 9kilometros.cl and follow Claudio on Twitter @CE_Aguilera_A. Gabriela Lyon is an artist and illustrator whose books include A Small History of a Disagreement (Greystone Kids). She studied visual arts at the Finis Terrae University in Santiago, Chile, where she now teaches drawing classes. Gabriela traveled to the Chiloé Archipelago while drawing the storyboards for this book, and the region's green light and cold humidity inspired her even as she worked during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns. In 2021, the Chilean Ministry of Culture honored the art of 9 Kilometers with the Coré Mention for illustration. Visit Gabriela's website at gabrielalyon.cl or follow her on Instagram @glyonb. Lawrence Schimel has written or translated over 200 books, including Niños, Different, and 9 Kilometers (all Eerdmans). His works have received many awards, including a PEN Translates Award and the GLLI Translated YA Book Prize Honor. Lawrence lives in Madrid, Spain. Follow him on Twitter @lawrenceschimel.