‘I Came From the Water’ is a powerful and inspiring tale based on the true story of Moses, an eight-year-old boy from St. Helene’s orphanage in Haiti. Plucked from the river as an infant after his family perished in a flood, Moses was named by the nuns at the orphanage. The book follows his journey of survival, resilience, and hope.

Plot: ★★★★☆
The plot is both heart-wrenching and hopeful, tracing Moses' life from the time he was found in the river to his role as a leader and helper to the newly orphaned children following the earthquake. The story is a poignant portrayal of loss, survival, and the power of community, with Moses’ journey serving as a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Character: ★★★★☆
Moses is a deeply compelling character, portrayed with a mix of innocence and wisdom beyond his years. His experiences shape him into a compassionate and determined leader, offering support and comfort to those around him. The nuns and Father Rick Frechette, who runs the orphanage, are also depicted with warmth and dedication, adding depth to the narrative.

Illustrations: ★★★★☆
The illustrations are both vibrant and evocative, capturing the emotional intensity of Moses' story. The artwork beautifully complements the narrative, bringing the settings and characters to life while adding an extra layer of meaning to the text. The illustrations effectively convey the mood of each scene, from the devastation of the floods to the hopeful atmosphere of the orphanage.

Engagement: ★★★★☆
The story is highly engaging, particularly for readers interested in real-life stories of resilience and hope. The narrative’s blend of personal and communal experiences makes it both relatable and thought-provoking. The connection between Moses' individual journey and the broader story of Haiti's challenges and hopes adds to the book’s emotional impact.

Readability: ★★★☆☆
While the language is accessible, the subject matter is complex and may require some explanation for younger readers. The book is well-suited for older children or for reading together with an adult who can help unpack the heavier themes. The straightforward yet emotionally charged narrative style makes it a compelling read.

Enjoyment: ★★★★☆
Despite the somber themes, ‘I Came From the Water’ is an uplifting and inspiring read. Moses’ courage and the supportive environment of the orphanage provide a hopeful message that will resonate with readers. The book’s combination of true events, heartfelt storytelling, and beautiful illustrations makes it an enjoyable and meaningful read for children and adults alike.


‘I Came From the Water’ by Vanita Oelschlager is a moving and inspirational story based on the real-life experiences of Moses, a young boy from Haiti. The book’s strong narrative, well-developed characters, and evocative illustrations make it a powerful tool for teaching children about resilience, compassion, and the strength of the human spirit. The story is a poignant reminder of the enduring hope that can arise from even the most difficult circumstances, making it a valuable addition to any library.

Beautiful story of a boy's problems living in Haiti. The story was heartbreaking from the start. A story that brings light to some of the issues that plague the people of Haiti.

A beautiful book about a very real boy who survived hurricanes and earthquakes in Haiti during his young life. It shows the good that the people who ran the St Damien's Hospital and the St Helene Children's Village did for him and far too many children who have been orphaned by natural disasters. It is illustrated by pictures and photos in the form of collages and clearly shows Moses' happiness with his life and the needs of the children in Haiti.

It's a good story, and I liked the actual photos at the end. I liked that this was based on a true story as well. I did not love the illustrations, especially the ones of Father Rick where the illustrator kind of makes him look like some sort of god. I am somewhat biased because I don't have much love for religion and there were parts of this that read a little like a brochure for the catholic church. Other than that, it was a good picture book.

This book was so adorable, I loved everything about it, the illustrations were so well done, they suited the book perfectly, the story was amazing as well. I’m sure the kids are going to be just as enthralled with this amazing book as I was. I will definitely recommend! Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this early copy

I came from the water is second true story based graphic novel by Vanita Oelschlager that I have come across.

It is about a 8 years old boy who was estranged from his family due to floods. He is from Haiti, Haiti is a small country in western hemisphere but is very poor coz it has to face natural disasters very often. It saddened me to read about the hardships faced by the little boy and other kids from the orphanage.

The book is okay but I am not really interested in biblical references. So it wasn't for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Vanitabooks for ARC, in exchange of an honest review.

The book was interesting and I think shows children how to empathize with others and to learn about other countries.. I think it is suited to those that have the Christian faith in their life. I thought the child's point of view was believable and kept me interested. I think the biggest draw to this book is the illustrations were unique. I was able to check this out at the library since the download did not work on Netgalley.

I Came From the Water is the beautiful story of a boy named Moses. When the floods came and took his family in 2004, someone (maybe grandma) put him in a basket and saved his life. This is an inspiring story, both because of the people who took care of Moses, but also because of the wonderful, caring, helpful boy that Moses became.

This book is beautifully illustrated, and the story is beautifully told. I would absolutely recommend this to schools and libraries to teach kids of Haiti, of kindness, and of amazing people in our world.

[Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this eARC in exchange for my honest review on the book!]

The story is okay, however it is exploiting the Haitian story. It’s not appropriate as it shows the child in a victim position. The perspective is from an outsider, not of a Moses. The other presents the story as fact but reading the story it is easy to tell the author has not had the same experience or anything remotely close.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
This book is about a young boy, Moses, who was orphaned during a storm. He tells of his life in Haiti and the various natural disasters that have affected his life and those around him. Because so much of this is about Moses' life when he was very young it is mostly guessed, however, it is presented as fact. The book also jumps from topic to topic, instead of following a more natural progression.

I thought that this was a really touching story that covered the arrival of a young baby boy at the children's village.

The baby arrived after devastating floods and was found in a basket, so he was given the name Moses by one of the sisters working to care and look after the orphaned children.

The book shows what these children have been through, after the flooding from the Tropical Storm came an earthquake and more flooding and devastation. A lot of people died from cholera due to the contaminated water and it really impacted upon the country.

The book tells the story really well and shows the impact that these natural disasters can have on some of these communities. An eye opening read on things we really do take for granted in more developed countries.

It is 4 stars from me for this one, highly recommended!

‘I Came From the Water’ has an overall tone of overcoming hardship, faith, and hope. The story is simple but at times challenging to follow since the language can be choppy, which may be due to translation. The illustrations are beautiful but at times the images don't seem to tie into the content on the page. There is a religious tone and the positions of power are all held by white individuals, which may be of issue for some however was the experience of Moses and changing such would change his history and experiences.

Thank you to NetGalley and VanitaBooks for providing an ARC of this book.

This is a beautifully illustrated book about a Haitian boy orphaned in a flood, and found in a basket. It is a picture book told from his point of view; so, there is not a lot of detail about any piece of his life. It is a very simple version of an orphan being raised by a Catholic orphanage - and shows the help that he and other survivors received from them.

I loved the book, but feel that I can't put it into my collection as a school library because it reads a little too much like propaganda. While I love the book and recommend it to individuals, I might get pushback from families in my school. I would love to have a version of this with more detail and the history of Haiti and the events mentioned in the book.

I love this children’s picture book about a boy named Moses who lived in Haiti. As he was found in a basket in the water as a baby, he was named Moses (like Moses in the Bible). I have no doubt that God had a hand in his delivery to the loving arms of the Priest and Sisters in Haiti. The story is beautiful, and I learned a lot about the poor nation of Haiti. I am grateful to learn about all the helping organizations in this country. I know that Author Mitch Albom also has an orphanage in the same region.

The photo illustrations with descriptions in the back of the book were difficult to appreciate as the font was tiny, giving to the change from a hardback to a digital version of the book.

The hand drawn illustrations were very helpful in giving a visual image of what the land of Haiti looked like. The colors were bright and vibrant, thus appealing to a child’s eye.

This book would be a nice addition to a Sunday-school classroom as it makes the story of Moses come alive in today’s world. Additionally, children could gain an appreciation of the difficulties children face in other parts of the world.

I want to thank Author Vanita Oelschlager, Illustrator Mike Blanc, Vanita Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this Advanced Reader’s Copy. This is a voluntary review, and all comments and opinions are entirely my own.

The story told in this book, of an infant rescued from flood waters and named Moses in honor of that backstory, is a sweet one.

This is a particularly good story for Catholic children - it references Mass and Heaven as just sort of normal things, which I always like in children's books. My one concern on this front is that the book treats death as equivalent to being in Heaven. Praying for the souls in Purgatory is an important (and honestly hopeful - we don't have to be perfect!) piece of the Catholic faith, and I dislike when it's glossed over.
I don't think it's too Catholic for a broader Christian audience, either, but it may be a little too Christian for more secular audiences.

Despite the core strengths of this story, though, its actual telling could have been stronger. The pictures weren't terribly appealing to me, and the language was choppy and repetitive. and a bit "precious." It felt like it was aimed at a very young audience, but the actual content of the story (lots of death - this is glossed over, but has the potential to be very scary if children actually think about it at all) and the complexity of the pictures were better suited to an older age range (maybe 6-9).

I'm also not entirely sure how I feel about a book being written about a real child, and especially one so socially vulnerable, due to the lack of a real ability to consent to this kind of publicity. I hope Moses was at least able to approve the final version, although there's no indication if this happened or not - the author only mentions her initial interview with him two years earlier (when he was 6).

Assuming the real Moses approves, this could be an okay addition to a Christian bookshelf for kids who are okay with hard topics and don't already have a lot of diverse or empathetic reads. But I suspect there are better books out there to fill that gap.

I received a free review copy of this book from NetGalley.

This books has lovely illustrations and a moving story about a child rescued in Haiti. The use of only white people in the positions of leadership (priests, doctors) and black people as those in need of rescue makes this book inappropriate for library collections.

I think the illustrations and photos are the best part of the book.. The text was interesting, although it deals with difficult topics. The autobiography told a fascinating story of a lucky boy who found his place in the world through a surprising number of events. First, he survived a hurricane by floating in a basket and was rescued while he was an infant. Then, he survived an earthquake, and finally a severe storm. His reporting gives children a sense of his life, and tips for survival. I was fascinated by his story as well as the photographic materials at the end of the book. As an adult, I think this book. will be helpful to people trying to introduce difficult topics of childhood displacement, loss, and instability and provide some hope to young people. Even if children have not exposed to any of this type of trauma, this story is a good way to introduce children to how bad things happen and that they can turn out okay.

**I received an e-ARC from NetGalley for an honest review**

I like the story and I liked hearing about Moses. He seems like a brave little boy who, although he's had a lot happen to him, still has kindness and his faith that things will get better.

Overall, the illustrations were mostly nice, but some of the people such as Father Rick are really creepy to look at. The story felt a little abrupt and jumped from topic to topic- I'm sure it was translated into English, but that, coupled with an adult trying to sound like a child, made it a little less interesting. Things such as tap-taps don't exist everywhere, so that seemed like a point that could have been left out.

Nice, but not something I'd really think twice about.

I really appreciated the way the author showed children, how devastating the Katrina storm was, while also showing them how the main character, was able to move on and find some happiness. I loved the illustrations, they were beautiful. I enjoyed this book, and I am sure children will too. (Hope and happiness after the storm)

The strength of this book are it's gorgeous illustrations that lend to a child's imagination while reading or being read this story. The child who narrates the story, Moses, is swept away from his parents during a deluge, and ends up washing up on shore in a basket, just like the biblical Moses. He is taken into an orphanage, with people who he says take good care of him. He suffers through the major Haitian earthquake, survives the cholera outbreak, but lives, and lets the reader know how much he loves his country and how much he appreciates the people who cared for him. The story is followed by photographs of the real children's home where Moses has been raised. This is a lovely story but could be triggering for some children. It is also a story that is supported by the Catholic Church, and that may not sit will with some readers.