Women Caught In The Crossfire
We are women. Our work has always stretched beyond the lines of sunrise and sunset. Do not think us weak because we do not fight by killing. We fight by giving birth to life, we feed our young from our own bodies, we raise up new life from our own ashes. For this, one must be stronger than death itself. We are such women. We are not victims, but proud bearers of the wisdom of generations, we are every country’s lifeline of hope for the future.
Welcome Aboard!
Welcome to the official website of Abuk Jervas Makuac and Susan Lynn Clark, the authors of the timely and compelling book, “Women Caught in the Crossfire: One Woman’s Quest for Peace in South Sudan.” Today, when tens of millions live as refugees worldwide, Abuk Jervas Makuac steps forward to recount her own journey as one woman among many who survived homelessness and hunger during South Sudan’s violent fight for independence. Prolonged armed conflicts, displacement, and refugee experiences have shaped the lives of South Sudanese women. We invite you into this challenging experience of hope beyond hope, hard-won resilience, and the ultimate power of women to build community in the face of war through this one of the best books about civil war.
The Story Behind the Book
In 1997, Abuk Jervas Makuac and Susan met by chance one evening at a refugee resettlement center in Dallas. There, they decided to join forces to write Abuk’s life story, the life story of a woman who found herself and her young son suddenly swept up in the chaos and violence of the South Sudanese civil war. The book, published in 2022, has ultimately emerged as a compelling chronicle of both intimate and collective stories spanning from 1983, at the start of the war for independence, to the present day, as the often blood-soaked struggles toward nation-building continue.
In this poignant narrative, the authors take the reader on a real-time journey into both the suffering and the strength commensurate with war. Fleeing her homeland, Abuk seeks refuge in Ethiopia with her young son, only to be confronted with hunger, homelessness, and uncertainty. The book details her day and night struggle to feed her child, the challenge of giving birth in exile, and the constant inner battle to keep hope alive.
Abuk’s transformation from a girl with broken dreams to a woman of strength, walking side by side in community with others, serves as a beacon of hope to people of all circumstances.
“Women Caught in the Crossfire” is also a testament to the power of female resilience not only in the life of one woman but also in the life of a nation, as endurance, love, and the determination of the human spirit are forged in the crucible of war.
South Sudanese Women's Fight To Rewrite Their Destiny
Abuk Jervas Makuac and Susan Lynn Clark bring you an authentic account of the violence and hardships women went through during years of political instability and war. In Women Caught in the Crossfire, you come across the adversities that women endure in this endemic-to-life volatile country that ranges from the despicable healthcare system, violence, and illiteracy, to rape, exile, and mental, emotional, and physical abuse. Nevertheless, women, the harbingers of change and the epitome of resilience have played a significant part in not only rewriting their own destiny but that of their country as well.
In the hope of putting an end to their suffering, they have fought with extreme courage. Through the story of one woman in Women Caught in Crossfire, Abuk Jervas Makuac and Susan Lynn Clark have shown the reflection of thousands of others who embarked on the journey of changing their plight with nothing but hope in their hearts for a better life and future.
About The Authors
ABUK JERVAS MAKUAC
SUSAN LYNN CLARK
The Heart of the Story
Abuk Makuac’s words resonate deeply: “We are women … proud bearers of the wisdom of generations, we are every country’s lifeline of hope for the future.”
These words encapsulate a central theme of the book – that the contribution of women, though historically dismissed as inconsequential, is in fact key to the survival and rebirth of a nation’s soul, especially a nation with a troubled history of war.
Abuk’s story is a testament to the collective power of women to not only survive together, but also work together to restore the health of a society.
“… For this one must be stronger than death. We are such women.”
Abuk Jervas Makuac
We are women. Our work has always stretched beyond the lines of sunrise and sunset. Do not think us weak because we do not fight by killing. We fight by giving birth to life, we feed our young from our own bodies, we raise up new life from our own ashes. For this, one must be stronger than death itself. We are such women. We are not victims, but proud bearers of the wisdom of generations, we are every country’s lifeline of hope for the future.
The Message of "Women Caught in the Crossfire"
“Women Caught in the Crossfire” is a call to recognize, honor, and learn from the strength, resilience, and peace-loving spirit of one woman among many in the face of wartime adversity. Abuk Makuac represents countless unnamed heroes who, through their sacrifice and determination, have time and again preserved the life of nations.
As you explore the pages of this book, you’ll experience the intimate daily life of wartime refugees, both in pain and in solace, in defeat and triumph. Abuk Makuac’s journey, as masterfully documented by Susan Lynn Clark, will both touch your heart and give you strength for your own journey forward.
book trailer
“Women Caught in the Crossfire” is counted among the best books about civil war, which will change the way you understand resilience, hope, and the deep well of the human spirit.
Abuk Makuac’s story gives voice to millions of women who are still in the throes of post-war survival, who have neither time nor resources to write their own memoir. Abuk’s story is the story of millions.
Get your copy today and embark on a journey that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, comments, or would like to get in touch with Abuk Jervas Makuac or Susan Lynn Clark, please visit our contact page. Your feedback is appreciated, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you for visiting! We know that “Women Caught in the Crossfire” will both challenge and inspire you.
