What you help a child to love can be more important than what you help him to learn. ~African proverb

​Surprisingly I’ve never gotten any flack from concerned parents that my book has been too violent for their kids. I was expecting some, and even had some trepidation that there would be a mass of parents rallying around a school one day while my books were being used to feed an ever growing bonfire. But it appears parents want their kids to be exposed to the happenings in the world. And that is a good thing.
Michel Chikwanine, a former child soldier from the Democratic Republic of Congo, is sharing his message to an even younger audience. He’s written a graphic novel, Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls are Used in War, that’s aimed towards 10 to 14 year olds. It’s a good read. Horrid truths surrounded by a message of hope and new life, it shares Chikwanine’s story when, at the age of five, he was forced to kill his best friend.
I can’t help but imagine the impact this story is having on the children in the classroom and the teachers who are reading this book. I’m sure there’s plenty of discussion afterwards, some tears, some anger, and lots of confusion. And that is also a good thing.

If you want to learn more about Chikwanine’s story click here.
If you wish to check out his book click here.

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