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Child Soldier
When Boys and Girls Are Used in War
by Michel Chikwanine; Jessica Dee Humphreys
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Pub Date
Sep 01 2015
| Archive Date
Jun 02 2016
Description
Michel Chikwanine was five years old when he was abducted from his school-yard soccer game in the Democratic Republic of Congo and forced to become a soldier for a brutal rebel militia. Against the odds, Michel managed to escape and find his way back to his family, but he was never the same again. After immigrating to Canada, Michel was encouraged by a teacher to share what happened to him in order to raise awareness about child soldiers around the world, and this book is part of that effort. Told in the first person and presented in a graphic novel format, the gripping story of Michel's experience is moving and unsettling. But the humanity he exhibits in the telling, along with Claudia Dávila's illustrations, which evoke rather than depict the violent elements of the story, makes the book accessible for this age group and, ultimately, reassuring and hopeful. The back matter contains further information, as well as suggestions for ways children can help. This is a perfect resource for engaging youngsters in social studies lessons on global awareness and social justice issues, and would easily spark classroom discussions about conflict, children's rights and even bullying. Michel's actions took enormous courage, but he makes clear that he was and still is an ordinary person, no different from his readers. He believes everyone can do something to make the world a better place, and so he shares what his father told him: ?If you ever think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a room with a mosquito.?
Michel Chikwanine was five years old when he was abducted from his school-yard soccer game in the Democratic Republic of Congo and forced to become a soldier for a brutal rebel militia. Against the...
Description
Michel Chikwanine was five years old when he was abducted from his school-yard soccer game in the Democratic Republic of Congo and forced to become a soldier for a brutal rebel militia. Against the odds, Michel managed to escape and find his way back to his family, but he was never the same again. After immigrating to Canada, Michel was encouraged by a teacher to share what happened to him in order to raise awareness about child soldiers around the world, and this book is part of that effort. Told in the first person and presented in a graphic novel format, the gripping story of Michel's experience is moving and unsettling. But the humanity he exhibits in the telling, along with Claudia Dávila's illustrations, which evoke rather than depict the violent elements of the story, makes the book accessible for this age group and, ultimately, reassuring and hopeful. The back matter contains further information, as well as suggestions for ways children can help. This is a perfect resource for engaging youngsters in social studies lessons on global awareness and social justice issues, and would easily spark classroom discussions about conflict, children's rights and even bullying. Michel's actions took enormous courage, but he makes clear that he was and still is an ordinary person, no different from his readers. He believes everyone can do something to make the world a better place, and so he shares what his father told him: ?If you ever think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a room with a mosquito.?
Advance Praise
Graphic in format but not detail ... The visual element gives this memoir particular immediacy for audiences who "don't understand what is happening right now, to kids just like them."— Kirkus Reviews
Graphic in format but not detail ... The visual element gives this memoir particular immediacy for audiences who "don't understand what is happening right now, to kids just like them."— Kirkus Reviews
Available Editions
| EDITION |
Other Format |
| ISBN |
9781771381260 |
| PRICE |
CA$18.95 (CAD)
|
Additional Information
Available Editions
| EDITION |
Other Format |
| ISBN |
9781771381260 |
| PRICE |
CA$18.95 (CAD)
|
Average rating from 60 members
Featured Reviews
Librarian 233912
Powerful book explaining the life of one boy's kidnapping and subsequent involvement in a rebel's war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is a graphic novel, nice text and great illustrations.
Elaine B, Reviewer
This book relates the experiences of Michel Chikwanine who grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It gives a brief outline history of the country before going on to tell what happened in 1993 when he was just five years old. His dad was a human rights lawyer but that didn’t stop him being taken from school by rebel militia to a rebel camp in the hillsides. The book goes on to tell about his selection and initiation into the rebel army and the tragic results when, blindfolded, he first fired a gun. It goes on to tell of how he escaped, what happened to him and his family and his life now.
It also contains further information about boys and girls who are forced to be soldiers and what is being done to help them. Michel’s father used to tell him, “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a room with a mosquito.” This book is one way Michel is trying to make a difference, sharing his experiences to help make others aware of what is happening so together we can help stop children being used and abused in this manner. It also gives information about other sources of information about this horrendous issue.
This is a powerful story told in a comic book story manner using simple language that children will find easy to relate to. The pictures used to illustrate it help enhance the understanding of the events and their impact on the people involved. At times the story is heartbreaking but overall it is inspirational and hopefully will help develop awareness and help protect children from being used as soldiers in future. This book may be a small mosquito but I really hope it can make a difference. Teachers please take a look, this is a book that children (and adults) really need to read!
Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Polly R, Librarian
Excellent book, a serious, but not unreasonably so, look at a very serious issue.
Featured Reviews
Librarian 233912
Powerful book explaining the life of one boy's kidnapping and subsequent involvement in a rebel's war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is a graphic novel, nice text and great illustrations.
Elaine B, Reviewer
This book relates the experiences of Michel Chikwanine who grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It gives a brief outline history of the country before going on to tell what happened in 1993 when he was just five years old. His dad was a human rights lawyer but that didn’t stop him being taken from school by rebel militia to a rebel camp in the hillsides. The book goes on to tell about his selection and initiation into the rebel army and the tragic results when, blindfolded, he first fired a gun. It goes on to tell of how he escaped, what happened to him and his family and his life now.
It also contains further information about boys and girls who are forced to be soldiers and what is being done to help them. Michel’s father used to tell him, “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a room with a mosquito.” This book is one way Michel is trying to make a difference, sharing his experiences to help make others aware of what is happening so together we can help stop children being used and abused in this manner. It also gives information about other sources of information about this horrendous issue.
This is a powerful story told in a comic book story manner using simple language that children will find easy to relate to. The pictures used to illustrate it help enhance the understanding of the events and their impact on the people involved. At times the story is heartbreaking but overall it is inspirational and hopefully will help develop awareness and help protect children from being used as soldiers in future. This book may be a small mosquito but I really hope it can make a difference. Teachers please take a look, this is a book that children (and adults) really need to read!
Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Polly R, Librarian
Excellent book, a serious, but not unreasonably so, look at a very serious issue.
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