A 2014 YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens
War Brothers is the graphic novel adaptation of the novel of the same name by Sharon McKay. Jacob is a young boy living in Uganda under the continual threat of abduction by Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army. He loves and excels at math, and is excited to start the new school year with his friends. But despite the extra guards his wealthy father hired to protect his school, Kony's army raids the school, taking the boys and forcing them into the army. Led through the jungle on a grueling march to continually evade the Ugandan army, he's told that only soldiers eat, drink, get weapons, and live comfortably. But to become a soldier, he must be willing to follow orders, even if it means killing innocent people. Jacob struggles with doing what is right and surviving before deciding to escape.
This graphic novel is an interesting snapshot into what life in the LRA is like. Admittedly, my only exposure to the LRA and the situation in Uganda is from Invisible Children and its divisive #Kony2012 campaign, so reading this story was enlightening. Sharon McKay interviewed many former child soldiers before writing this story, and she does a good job giving Jacob real thoughts and feelings. Unfortunately, the story fell a little flat for me. Everything moves so quick that it's hard to connect with the other characters and really grasp the gravity of the situation. Given that it's an adaptation, this might be something that is better executed in the novel. Overall, it's a fascinating story about an ongoing tragedy that many are unaware of.
(Read as part of YALSA's Hub Challenge)
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