"An incisive, thoroughly researched, and empathic inquiry into how the youth in Rwanda cope with survival, adulthood, the legacy of genocide, and an oppressive state."—Filip Reyntjens, author of The Great African War: Congo and Regional Geopolitics, 1996-2006
“Stuck: Rwandan Youth and the Struggle for Adulthood should be must reading for policy makers, aid officials, and leaders of post-war societies who are concerned about youth. Sommers’s findings call into question much of the conventional wisdom about youth in war-torn societies, and are a reminder of the importance of listening to the priorities and perspectives of the poor youth majority of these societies before drafting policies and programs designed to assist youth. Policies divorced from the realities of these youth will inevitably be counter-productive and will fail. Along the way, Sommers offers important insights into the political dynamics and prospects of post-genocide Rwanda. It is to be hoped that Sommers’s insightful critique of Rwandan policies will be met not with defensiveness but with an open and comprehensive review of government assumptions and practices.”—Howard Wolpe, former U.S. presidential envoy to Africa’s Great Lakes region
"An eloquent, evocative, and deeply moving account of young Rwandans straining against near-impossible odds to come of age. The story that unfolds in rural valleys and city neighborhoods is compelling and tragic, and has much to tell us about gender, governance, social control, resistance, and dignity. A must-read for policymakers and anyone interested in the realities of young people today."—John Prendergast, Cofounder of the Enough Project and coauthor of Unlikely Brothers: Our Story of Adventure, Loss, and Redemption
"Stuck is an unusual and hauntingly sad book. It is a solidly research sociological study of what youth in today's Rwanda see as their prospects."—Robert E. Gribbin, Africa Reflections blog
“Marc Sommers’ account of the plight of Rwanda’s poor youth majority is in many respects a commandingly authoritative portrait of a looming calamity which contrasts sharply with other accounts of the dynamism and resourcefulness of African youth. . . . Stuck is certainly an incisive and sophisticated account of the Rwandan state and policy environment.”—Will Rollason, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute
“This ethnography of Rwandan youth is a valuable addition to the literature on both African youth and contemporary Rwanda. . . . [Stuck] is written in an accessible, engaging style, mixing ethnographic detail and stories with analysis and reflection.”—Lyndsay Hilker, Journal of Africa
“Marc Sommers has written a remarkable book . . . The power of [his] study is that it shines a light on Rwanda’s youth bulge and highlights the negative sociopolitical and cultural impacts of failing to address the near-impossibility of becoming adults in contemporary Rwanda.”—Susan Thomson, African Studies Review
“Thanks to his talents as a writer and ethnographer as well as his experience in the policy world, Sommers has produced a highly readable book of theoretical significance. . . .Sommers’s strength is his engagement with the transcontinental literature on African youth and urbanization. [Stuck] is vital reading for scholars of Africa, policy makers, and development workers.”—Jennie E. Burnet, Journal of Anthropological Research
