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.
“An inherently fascinating read and one of those novels that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the book is finished and set back upon the shelf. Highly recommended…” —Midwest Book Review
“Historical fiction with a love story at its core—but also a harrowing survival story that reads like a thriller. Kudos to Mark on his new masterpiece!” —James Patterson, New York Times bestselling author
“Mark Sullivan’s All the Glimmering Stars is the pinnacle of an already distinguished career. A searing piece of historical fiction steeped in a yearslong deep dive into the horrors of child soldiering, it is at its core something tender and rare: a love story between two profoundly good people striving for light in unimaginable darkness. It is a joy and an inspiration.” —Gregg Hurwitz, New York Times bestselling author of the Orphan X series
“Set amid the harrowing chaos of Joseph Kony’s cultlike regime and his abducted children turned soldiers, an extraordinary narrative of love and unwavering resilience emerges. The intertwined journey of Anthony Opoka and Florence Okori stands as a luminous symbol of hope. Their love becomes a refuge, a testament to the human spirit’s endurance.” —Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of The Many Daughters of Afong Moy
“All the Glimmering Stars is a searing tribute to the power of love and the endurance of the human spirit. You can’t look away from the harrowing survival story of Anthony and Florence Opoka. Mark Sullivan shows how the tiniest glint of hope can sustain us in life’s darkest moments. Masterful and moving.” —Robert Dugoni, bestselling author of The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell
“Anthony and Florence are two remarkable characters who manage to hold on to their humanity in the face of a dictator’s reign of terror. That their story is true makes their resilience and courage all the more inspiring. Mark Sullivan brings this important saga to life with a tension and immediacy that will keep any reader on the edge of their seat until the final word.” —Olivia Hawker, bestselling author of The Ragged Edge of Night and The Stars and Their Light
“Mark Sullivan has shone a light on an aspect of war that is forgotten all too often—that those forced to the front lines are not soldiers but children. And yet there is hope and life and love, which is why this book is a must read: We all need to know that we can come back from horror and pain.” —Sophfronia Scott, bestselling author of Wild, Beautiful, and Free
"Mark Sullivan has a knack for discovering the kind of stories that need to be brought into the light. He’s inspired by real-life people who have survived and thrived after enduring the worst of humanity—people who go on to serve as examples of the best of humanity. Anthony Opoka and Florence Okori are two profoundly good people striving for light in unimaginable darkness. While just teenagers, they are abducted and forced to become child soldiers for Joseph Kony’s cult-like regime in 1990s Uganda. With vivid detail, Sullivan tells the story of their capture, life under Kony, and their miraculous escape…All the Glimmering Stars is a love story at its core—and a call to action for us all to demand the end of using children in armed conflict anywhere in the world.“ —Tricia F., Audible Editor
Mark Sullivan is the acclaimed author of more than twenty novels, including the #1 Amazon Charts, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestseller Beneath a Scarlet Sky as well as the #1 New York Times bestselling Private series, which he writes with James Patterson. Mark has received numerous accolades for his work, including the WHSmith Fresh Talent Award, and he has written both a New York Times Notable Book and a Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Year. He grew up in Medfield, Massachusetts, and graduated from Hamilton College with a BA in English before working as a volunteer in the Peace Corps in Niger, West Africa. Upon his return to the United States, Mark earned a graduate degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and began a career in investigative reporting before turning to fiction. An avid skier and adventurer, he lives with his wife in Bozeman, Montana, where he remains grateful for the miracle of every moment. For more information,
This item is eligible for simple returns within 30 days of delivery. Return shipping is the responsibility of the customer. See our returns policy for further details.
