My Name Is Tani . . . and I Believe in Miracles Young Readers Edition

Written by Tanitoluwa Adewumi and Craig Borlase

Narrated by Ronnie Butler

An amazing, miraculous refugee story of coming to America, the young readers edition of Tani Adewumi's story will inspire kids looking for true stories of doing hard things.

At eight years old, Tani Adewumi, a refugee, won the 2019 New York State Chess Championship after playing the game for only a year--and while homeless. 

Tani and his family fled Boko Haram's reign of terror in Nigeria to come to the United States, where they lived in a New York City homeless shelter while waiting to be granted religious asylum. Tani began attending a public elementary school and decided he wanted to join the chess program, but it required a fee. Tani's mother reached out to the coach, who offered Tani a scholarship--and a year later the young immigrant became a chess champion.

Ideal for listeners 8 to 12 years old, this adaptation presents compelling insight into:

• What it means to leave a comfortable home and move to a new country with nothing
• What it's like to live in America as a homeless family
• How it feels to be an outsider, a Nigerian, in a new school
• And what it means to learn a game, compete, and experience the thrill of winning

Tani's story will inspire you to believe in the power of the human spirit to triumph over the greatest adversities. And his family's faith will inspire you to believe in miracles.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tommy Nelson
• Release date: Apr 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781400218325

Tanitoluwa Adewumi

Tani Adewumi is the eight-year-old Nigerian-born boy who recently won the NY State Chess Championship after playing the game for only a year. Tani and his family's story begins amidst Boko Haram's reign of terror in their native country of Nigeria and takes them to a New York City homeless shelter, where they waited to be granted religious asylum. Tani's father, who came from a royal Nigerian family, became a dishwasher and Uber driver to support his family. His mother, whose family owned the largest printing press in Nigeria and had been working at a bank for over a decade, trained to become a home-aid. So, when Tani asked to join the chess program at PS 116, which required a fee, it seemed unlikely. His mother wrote to the coach, who offered Tani a scholarship. Miracles led Tani and his family to New York. As Tani's father puts it, "There are many times in my life where I thought this must be the miracle and yet, I did not know that the miracle had not yet begun."

Reviews for My Name Is Tani . . . and I Believe in Miracles Young Readers Edition

[Jean Garneau · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved the book! Tani is a little genius. Unbelievable script for a 10 yo to wrtie

[brangwinn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Written for children this is a compelling story of a refugee family. Forced to flee Nigeria because of the Boko Haram, Tani and his family came to America. Told not only from the perspective of young Tani, the reader hears from his mother and father as well. The are a few color pictures, but what I came away with is how there are still people in American who are giving and cheer for the success of immigrants.