Of Beetles and Angels: A Boy’s Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard

The book’s title refers to its primary, and perhaps most important, theme: that appearances are often deceiving, and regardless of appearance, every human should be treated with respect and dignity.

In terms of the refugee experience, this theme is a particularly important one. As we see with Haileab, though he was once a highly-respected doctor in Africa, when he comes to America, he is forced into the role of a “beetle,” becoming a janitor. Haileab, like so many other refugees with past “angel” lives in Africa, are looked down upon by broader American society. We see Haileab also referred to, in passing, as a “crazy old man,” and only later in life does Mawi come to appreciate his father’s talents as a storyteller (102). This theme encourages the reader to look beyond surface appearances, seeing the value at the core of a person’s character.

The American Dream, as many refugees discover, is not all it appears to be. In the Sudanese refugee camp, Mawi is told about how wonderful life is in America: “Everyone lived to be a hundred years old. And had access to free education. And no wars—no wars! Yes, everyone had cars, and no one had to work more than two hours a day.