About the Book
Now a major motion picture. Obama's childhood in Indonesia has been engraved deeply into his friends' memory. Outstanding and unique, Barry brought himself into various funny, weird, yet touching experiences. Being different, he tried hard to adjust to his new neighborhood and do well in school. However, still, he sometimes got bullied. Luckily, there were Slamet and Yuniadi, his neighbors who kept him company. They became a solid team despite their own childlike disputes. Their friendship was strengthened through badminton, ping-pong, and monopoly games, and glued when they had to face the same opponents together: the tough kids, in a soccer match. Finally, after making it through these hardships, Barry was accepted by his friends. He even became an idol on the basketball field. This novel gives inspiration for those who are different and feel lonely in society. Who knows, because of your uniqueness, someday, you may also become a president. Inspired by stories of Barack Obama's friends, teachers, and families in Jakarta.
About the Author: Damien Dematra is a novelist, scriptwriter, director, producer, international photographer, and painter. He has written 81 novels in dual languages, English and Indonesian, 62 films and TV scenarios, and produced 32 films in various genres; among them is the internationally distributed Little Obama, The Kampoeng Boy, Dream Obama, and L4 Lupus. As a photographer, he received two of the highest achievements in photography: Fellowship in Portraiture and Art Photography from the Master Photographer Association and many international rewards, such International Master Photographer of the Year. As a painter, Damien Dematra has produced thousands of sketches and paintings, among them, 365 paintings are painted only in one year. One of his paintings about Obama has been officially received by President Barack Obama in White House. His profile and works have been published by international media such Time, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, BBC, AP, AFP, Reuters, USA Today, ABC, New York, Forbes, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera TV, NHK Japan, KBS Korea, TV3 Malaysia, Iran TV, etc. Damien currently holds 9 world records: as the fastest writer in the world, writer with fastest novel published, fastest photographer in the world, fastest painter in the world, writer of the thickest book in the world, maker of the shortest time taken to make a feature length film from scripting to screening, etc. He is the initiator and the national coordinator of a Pluralism Care Movement and the Chairman of National Writing Movement in Indonesia.