{"product_id":"soldier-boy-9781250158444","title":"Soldier Boy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA searing, shocking book--part non-fiction, part novel--based on the true story of a child soldier in Uganda who survived war and enslavement and went on to create a haven for others who suffered a similar fate.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eSoldier Boy \u003c\/i\u003ebegins with the story of Ricky Richard Anywar, abducted at age fourteen in 1989 to fight with Joseph Kony's rebel army in Uganda's decades-long civil war. Ricky is trained, armed, and forced to fight government soldiers alongside his brutal kidnappers, but never stops dreaming of escape. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe story continues twenty years later, with a fictionalized character named Samuel, representative of the thousands of child soldiers Ricky eventually helped rehabilitate as founder of the internationally acclaimed charity Friends of Orphans. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWorking closely with Ricky himself, debut author Keely Hutton has written an eye-opening book about a boy's unbreakable spirit and indomitable courage. Beginning in Africa amidst the horrors of civil war, his is a story that is as uplifting as it is heartwrenching. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eSolider Boy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"\u003cb\u003eUnapologetically searing and catastrophically truthful\u003c\/b\u003e, a reminder to readers that it demands much to meet harsh realities with impossible courage.\" --\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"In this \u003cb\u003ebrutal debut novel inspired by real-life events\u003c\/b\u003e, Hutton addresses the horrors of the Ugandan civil war through two child soldiers. Hutton approaches the setting, conflict, and characters with \u003cb\u003eunremitting honesty\u003c\/b\u003e, drawing from Anywar's own life (he contributes an afterword) while using the fictional Samuel as a stand-in for the current generation of unwilling soldiers. This isn't an easy or pleasant read--Hutton doesn't shy from discussions of rape, torture, and abuse--but it's eye-opening and relevant.\" --\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly, \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003estarred review\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"A visceral indictment of man's inhumanity to man, while also \u003cb\u003ecelebrating human beings' ability to empathize\u003c\/b\u003e and to rescue those who desperately need saving.\" --\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003cb\u003estarred review\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"\u003cb\u003eA compelling tale\u003c\/b\u003e . . . with a message of hope . . . A \u003cb\u003emust-purchase\u003c\/b\u003e for teen collections.\" --\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003cb\u003estarred review\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Hutton's debut novel seamlessly blends the biographical account of Anywar's experiences with the fictional story of Samuel . . . Anywar will inspire a multitude of readers with his phenomenal ability to make peace with his past and his desire to help others like him . . . A \u003cb\u003emust-have\u003c\/b\u003e for every library with a teen collection.\" --\u003ci\u003eVOYA\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"A story that stands up for the unrelenting power of the human spirit to reject evil, the nigh-impossible odds that must be conquered to escape enslavement, and the deep scars that remain for a lifetime . . . \u003cb\u003eUnapologetically searing and catastrophically truthful\u003c\/b\u003e.\" --\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Over the years I have read many novels and memoirs about children and warfare in modern Africa, but \u003ci\u003eSoldier Boy\u003c\/i\u003e stands out as one of the very best. Based on actual historical events, this \u003cb\u003ecompelling novel\u003c\/b\u003e is a story of great violence and pain, but it is also one of\u003cb\u003e tremendous strength, courage, and resilience\u003c\/b\u003e. I will definitely be assigning it to my students for many years to come.\" --Alicia Catharine Decker, Associate Professor, Pennsylvania State University, author of \u003ci\u003eIn Idi Amin's Shadow: Women, Gender, and Militarism in Uganda\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Keely Hutton\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Square Fish\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/12\/2018\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 336\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.60lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.10h x 5.50w x 0.90d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781250158444\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAudience:\u003c\/b\u003e Young Adult\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAccelerated Reader:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReading Level:\u003c\/b\u003e 5.9\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePoint Value:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eInterest Level:\u003c\/b\u003e Upper Grade\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eQuiz #\/Name: \u003c\/b\u003e190338 \/ Soldier Boy\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eKeely Hutton\u003c\/b\u003e is a children's book author and former English teacher. She worked closely with Ricky Richard Anywar to tell his story in her debut novel, \u003ci\u003eSoldier Boy\u003c\/i\u003e, which \u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e named one of the top ten first novels of the year and one of the top ten historical novels for youth the following year. Her second novel, \u003ci\u003eSecret Soldiers\u003c\/i\u003e, was a Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year and a Children's Book Council Notable Social Studies Book for Young People. She is also the co-author of Achut Deng's coming-of-age memoir \u003ci\u003eDon't Look Back, \u003c\/i\u003ewhich recounts Deng's journey from South Sudan to America\u003ci\u003e. \u003c\/i\u003eKeely lives in Rochester, New York, with her husband, two sons, and adorable dog, Maximus. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eRicky Richard Anywar\u003c\/b\u003e is the founder of the internationally acclaimed charity Friends of Orphans, and a former child soldier in Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). Since escaping the LRA, Anywar has dedicated his life to rehabilitating other survivors and advocating for peace in their communities.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"booksdeli.com","offers":[{"title":"Keely Hutton \/ Paperback \/ English","offer_id":47876592074909,"sku":"9781250158444","price":35.97,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0619\/5648\/9373\/files\/img_45dbc4e0-ea71-4646-b7bd-9cc59879b16d.jpg?v=1777382834","url":"https:\/\/booksdeli.com\/products\/soldier-boy-9781250158444","provider":"booksdeli.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}