War Brothers

This is a powerful and unforgettable graphic novel, based on true events, about the capture of Ugandan schoolchildren forced to serve as child soldiers in the Lord’s Resistance Army. Fourteen-year-old Jacob and his friends are sharing stories about their school break when the door to their dorm is violently kicked in. Blinded by fear and confusion, the boys are abducted from their school in the middle of the night, marched into the jungle and forced to become child soldiers in the Lord’s Resistance Army – it’s kill or be killed. Based on the award-winning novel War Brothers by Sharon E. McKay, with striking illustrations by animator and storyboard artist Daniel Lafrance, this graphic novel captures the very essence of life as a child soldier. Readers will never forget Jacob’s experiences as he struggles to survive, unsure of who he can trust, afraid of succumbing to madness and, above all, desperate to get to freedom. It is endorsed by Amnesty International UK as contributing to a better understanding of human rights and the values that underpin them. The story gives young Western readers an insight into human rights abuses suffered in other parts of the globe, and its pacy narrative and arresting art style make it ideal for reluctant or struggling readers. The author spent time in Uganda and based this story on real-life accounts of the horrors inflicted on child soldiers and their victims. This is a story of unthinkable violence, but also one of hope, courage, friendship and family.