All the Glimmering Stars: A Novel
Inspired by a true story, two teens kidnapped by an African warlord find salvation through love in a powerful and healing historical novel from the #1 bestselling author of Beneath a Scarlet Sky and The Last Green Valley.
Anthony Opoka and Florence Okori are coming of age in Uganda in the 1990s. Outstanding students, they believe in being good humans before they are kidnapped and forced into the fanatical Lord’s Resistance Army.
In a legion of young recruits, no one gets closer than Anthony to powerful messianic warlord Joseph Kony and his darkest secrets. To stay sane as he spirals through chaos, Anthony clings to his childhood lessons about being a good human. Florence’s upbringing grounds her, too, helping her keep her dreams alive even as she’s pulled deeper into the insanity of Kony’s war.
At the lowest points of their lives, certain they’ll never go home, Anthony and Florence meet by chance, fall in love, and begin to dream of surviving their captivity. They devote their lives to helping their fellow child soldiers escape bondage and return to their families and redemption by following the stars.
By turns tender, shocking, moving, desperate, and ultimately triumphant, Florence and Anthony’s story is an epic drama of humanity, a life-affirming tale, and an experience readers will never forget.
Featuring an afterword by Anthony and Florence Opoka.
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Inspired by a true story, two teens kidnapped by an African warlord find salvation through love in a powerful and healing historical novel from the #1 bestselling author of Beneath a Scarlet Sky and The Last Green Valley.
Anthony Opoka and Florence Okori are coming of age in Uganda in the 1990s. Outstanding students, they believe in being good humans before they are kidnapped and forced into the fanatical Lord’s Resistance Army.
In a legion of young recruits, no one gets closer than Anthony to powerful messianic warlord Joseph Kony and his darkest secrets. To stay sane as he spirals through chaos, Anthony clings to his childhood lessons about being a good human. Florence’s upbringing grounds her, too, helping her keep her dreams alive even as she’s pulled deeper into the insanity of Kony’s war.
At the lowest points of their lives, certain they’ll never go home, Anthony and Florence meet by chance, fall in love, and begin to dream of surviving their captivity. They devote their lives to helping their fellow child soldiers escape bondage and return to their families and redemption by following the stars.
By turns tender, shocking, moving, desperate, and ultimately triumphant, Florence and Anthony’s story is an epic drama of humanity, a life-affirming tale, and an experience readers will never forget.
Featuring an afterword by Anthony and Florence Opoka.
melissa myers –
Great book! It’s a tough topic but filled with love, hope and examples of how to be a good human.
I was hesitant at first to read this book due to the disturbing topic of children being kidnapped & forced to become child soldiers for an evil man and his evil cause. The topic was a hard one to read about especially knowing that it’s true, that it’s based on real life experiences and events and also that there are children still today in 2026 being kidnapped and forced into servitude as slaves and soldiers. All that being said I’m so glad that I took the recommendation of a friend and read this book!This book was written so well! Typically after I read a book I will pass it along & give it to a friend and fellow reader with the instructions to do the same when they’re done reading it. I just can’t do that with this book! Instead I plan on keeping this one for myself and for my personal library. Although what I will give away is my opinion and suggestion that you read this book!The two main characters were so uplifting and inspiring. The book topic is a tough one, but the story was told with such hope that this wasn’t a depressing book. I loved it, and I loved the fact that the story is based on the life experiences of Anthony and Florence Opoka. This book takes an extremely challenging real life story and thoroughly wraps it in hope and love and what it looks like to live as a good human.
KWyly –
Do not miss this story basted on two read people
Anthony was seven years old when his father first began to teach him about the African sky overhead and how to navigate using the stars in the night sky. He also learned how to find his way home by searching for a particular hill and the intertwined trees. That way no matter where Anthony was, he could always fine his way home. The lessons continued with how his father hoped Anthony would handle making decisions in his own life by being a good human and to always ask himself how can I be happy today? His father was wise in his many teachings. He also warned Anthony that the worst thing he could ever be was to be a soldier. No one should dominate another person.Anthony’s life centered around his home, his parents, siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins, chores, his love of running, and his love of school. His life was good. Anthony was happy. People said he was a special boy.Meanwhile, for the last five years Uganda had been in the throes of a civil war between the Uganda Army and the LRA (the Lord’s Resistance Army.) The LRA was a terrifying organization. LRA members were forced to fight or die. The army was made up of adult leadership and hundreds of children kidnapped by those ruthless soldiers. The LRA was the brainchild of Joseph Kory. A fanatical master of terror who gathered a huge army and led that army by fear, torture, intimidation, and horrific punishment. As young as 7, these children were kidnapped and forced to march for hours without food or drink. On the happiest day of 14-year-old Anthony’s life, he was kidnapped. The indoctrination began immediately.This book is the fictionalized story of two very real people, Anthony Opoka and a stolen girl named Florence Okori. Florence was waiting on her exam scores to go to nursing school, when, at 14, she was kidnapped with her entire school – teachers and all. How Anthony and Florence found each other is a miracle. Even pregnant and with a toddler in her arms, Florence was commanded to march.This is not an easy story to read. But this is a book every person needs to read. There are truly good people in the world. Yet a madman had the power to use children armed with rocket launchers and AK 47s to fight. Kory’s plan was to rule! No one escaped this army alive as the LRA had the best trackers in all of Africa. There was only one way out of the LRA.Be sure to read the author’s notes and the pages at the end of the book. Author Mark Sullivan took on the project of telling this story in novel form. It is well researched and masterfully written. The story of Anthony and Florence is not one to be forgotten. Read this book free on Kindle Unlimited. Then, do like I did, and buy the hardback to share the story. Five well deserved stars. And a story that sticks.
Lisa J. Randall –
Anthony and Florence
This was a hard book to read because of the harshness of the content. The unbelievable things the child soldiers were made to do and endure. However, I was compelled every day to read more. I wanted to know what happened to Anthony and Florence. What amazing people they are. They are real! They survived! Their story is not a cheery, rosy story. But their love is beautiful! They are GOOD humans! Thank Mr. Sullivan for telling their story.
Jan F. –
The Stars will guide you…
Amazing real life story. Incredible that this couple survived Joseph Koney and the LRA. The author perfectly descibes the characters you love and root for and the characters you come to despise. Such a worthy read and that enlightens and teaches us how to truly aspire to be a ‘good human’…the Stars will guide you. Read it and find out for yourself!
E. Duerksen –
Amazing story of suffering and the power of love
Gripping story of two teens kidnapped and forced into a true madman’s child army for years, their wild escape, and deliverance from hate…and so much more. Puts our little first world issues in perspective. Great read!
P. J. Carlson –
Great book
I found it interesting, sad , tragic and at the same time uplifting. Amazing story.
Maureen Robinson –
History knowledge was interesting
A very interesting good read!
VonWitt –
This is story that must be known. Unfortunately HORRIBLE writing.
An incredible story that needs to be known. This is a must read for that fact alone. Sadly it is HORRIBLY written. Elementary style writing.
Amazon Customer –
A wonderful read although parts sad and brutal.
Ellen Carter –
A fantastic read. Couldn’t put it down. Terrifying and brilliant from start to finish.Throughly recommend this book. It may change you whole outlook on life.
Placeholder –
I loved reading the story of survival, a lesson on patiently struggling against odds to come out Victorious in life. The silverlining of the novel was the love of Antony and Florence.
Seastorm –
The realisation I was reading a tale of unfathomable challenge based on actual events simply made the power of this tale even more meaningful.
stripey –
It’s difficult to know how to do justice to this book. Mark Sullivan has done a great job honing this true story into a readable narrative. At times I had to put the book down, the subject matter being so repellent (child abductions, violence against children, rape, & so on) but I felt I had to honour the memory of the people who had endured. The truly inspirational lives of Anthony and Florence however are the golden thread that kept me going.I would definitely recommend this book. Not an easy read but well worth the effort.