This short but enormously powerful debut novel is told in the voice of Agu, a young boy in an unnamed West African nation, who is recruited into a unit of guerrilla fighters as civil war engulfs his country. In a strikingly original voice that vividly captures Agu's youth and confusion, Uzodinma Iweala has produced a harrowing, inventive, and deeply affecting novel. For students, here is a chance to explore current issues with a deeply human voice as their guide.

"Devastating. . . . A raw and brutal story about the horrifying effects of cruelty and the incredible power of hope."-Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Freshman Common Read: Kalamazoo College--Entertainment Weekly (A)

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Published: 08/15/2006
ISBN: 9780060798680
Pages: 142
Weight: 0.37lbs
Size: 7.16h x 4.90w x 0.55d

Review Citations: New York Times 08/27/2006 pg. 24