Comments on: Samba of Survival: My Light Within

By: M Biggane

M Biggane — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 17:18:35 +0000

Maria’s book has stayed with me long after I put it down. I can still vividly picture so many of the scenes depicted within it’s pages. It, like her, is a triumph! The hardships endured never give way to despair, or nihilism. In fact quite the opposite! One leaves it with a sense of enduring hope and affirmation in the human condition. A lovely read!

By: Rebecca Cammarere

Rebecca Cammarere — Mon, 13 May 2024 16:19:20 +0000

Samba of Survival: My Light Within, by Maria Leda Souza Hogan, is a captivating novel of Maria’s life. Her memories recounted are raw and vivid, and truly show the hardships that she overcame. I found myself amazed and horrified at some stories I was reading. I feel for her whole family at the conditions they endured, in which they had no control over, especially at such a young age. Even more than her childhood hardships, this book shows the determination and resilience that Maria needed to change the situation she was in. She overcame her physical and emotional state, while displaying kindness and compassion towards others. I, without a doubt, recommend this read to anyone.

By: Rosalyn Bryant

Rosalyn Bryant — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 15:33:05 +0000

This book describes to me how the struggle is not just her’s but her sharing and her struggles is a living proof on how she overcame by the grace of God . I will continue reading the book. I can truly say that maria’s book is a blessing to make although she lives a rough and challenging life she is still standing ,sharing her experience , I would say
a testimony about her and her family and she went thru life .I applause her courage and
will to not give up and bring her story as it was written.

By: Gri Saex

Gri Saex — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 15:32:43 +0000

Maria’s story got to my soul. Her survival and her presence being here today in front of us is a testament to her spirit and the human spirit. It was a reminder as well of our normalization of the systems of oppression many people live today. It is a call to action and connection. I was moved to tears of sadness and joy in many instances when I read about sleeping through extreme hunger, and sitting next to her mom as she told stories and sang. The small town and its people brought back memories of my own privileged childhood. I remembered children like Aninho who died from hunger in near by Campos, a classmate of mine in second grade Marianita. Every detail in this story became alive for me and has inspired me to take action. I can just not be still. This is a story of millions who unlike Maria lose their humanity and are forgotten, dismissed from our thoughts, erased from news and narratives. Maria thank you for being that light that you are and is there for us to see and be reminded of our biggest purpose as humans, to take care of each other. This book must be part of school readings all over the globe.

By: Keishabell Ibarra

Keishabell Ibarra — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 15:20:40 +0000

Ms. Hogan was such an amazing sweet soul to have in class. She shared a few experiences that weren’t in the book. Her story is inspiring and makes you question a lot about what happens in other countries. Her memoir brings you on an emotional roller coaster in all the best ways. It was a pleasure to read this book in class and meet her in person.

By: Nitzairis Rivera

Nitzairis Rivera — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 15:09:16 +0000

This book is a vivid representation of the power of over coming life’s struggles! The amount of detail allowed me to visually see what she went through growing up. This book is beautifully written and extremely powerful, such a great read! I appreciate her honesty in how hard she had it in her younger years. I met her in person and she is so lovely and kind, empowering and educated. Her growth is inspiring and I was so glad to meet her and read her novel! The book meant a lot to me because it shows change is possible!

By: Gabriela Garay

Gabriela Garay — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 15:17:01 +0000

As the daughter of a Brazilian family, and a senior in High School, I can speak freely that Maria Leda’s story perfectly portrays our culture as well as many people’s experiences in Brazil. Samba of Survival: My light within, tells the life story of a woman who flourishes and grows around the cruel reality of poverty in the slums of Brazil. Hunger is constant in the past life of Maria Leda, but the book is so much more than that. Through vivid stories, poems, and music mentioned throughout the story, you’ll smile and cry several times. It’s almost as if you can feel every joy and every pain that Leda describes. Every person with a heartbeat should read this book, specially teenagers. It inspires us to believe and it shows that no one, nor anything can delay those who were born to win. Her bravery in showing the world her real-life story is impressive. After many years of being silenced by a society that didn’t allow her to flourish, Leda will finally be heard and help others with the same circumstances have their voices heard too. With this memoir, you’ll learn to recognize and appreciate your privilege. Maria Leda de Souza, I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again: your life story is admirable.

By: Debbie Vernon

Debbie Vernon — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 20:51:29 +0000

Maria’s story is heartbreaking. With all that she went through just to survive is hard to fathom, but she never gave up on herself or her family. Read it and you will never take things for granted again. It truly is an amazing story told in a beautiful way.

By: Marina

Marina — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 00:20:02 +0000

This memoir gripped me from the start and I could not put it down until I read it cover to cover. This is a story of incredible hardship, but Maria is a strong person and she worked hard to overcome the injustices in her life. This memoir is incredibly inspiring, and I urge everyone to read it right away!

By: Cecilia Rodrigues

Cecilia Rodrigues — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 15:44:22 +0000

Maria Leda Souza Hogan’s memoir tells the heartbreaking story of her family striving for survival in the least developed region of Brazil. Despite depicting poverty’s tragic reality, “Samba of Survival: My Light Within” is profoundly inspiring not only for its human truth, but also for the inherent hope it highlights.