Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published Mar 2008
400 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publication Information
She promised her mama she'd keep them safe.
It's been six months since Mama died, and Chanda is struggling to raise her little brother and sister. Determined to end a family feud, she takes them to her relatives' remote rural village.
But across the nearby border, a brutal civil war is spreading. Rebels led by the ruthless General Mandiki attack at night, stealing children. All that separates Chanda from the horror is a stretch of rugged bush and a national park alive with predators. Soon, not even that. Before she knows it, Chanda must face the unthinkable, with a troubled young tracker as her unlikely ally.
Chanda's Wars is the unforgettable story of a teenager who risks everything to save her brother and sister. Epic in its sweep, intimate in its humanity, here is a gripping tale of family intrigue, love and courage, forgiveness and hope.
"Starred Review. Stratton's setting (as in Chanda's Secrets, 2004) is a fictional African country, so the explanatory author's note is required reading for this outstanding piece." - Kirkus Reviews.
"This story is both suspenseful and engaging. Chanda is steadfast in the face of adversity, and the book is as hopeful and spirited as its protagonist." - School Library Journal.
"This novel is a masterpiece, revealing that beauty can exist in the most unlikely situations and that beauty will win, in the end. Descriptions of war are graphic but central to the story." - VOYA.
This information about Chandra's Wars was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Allan Stratton is the author of the internationally acclaimed Michael L. Printz Honor Book Chanda's Secrets. Its numerous citations include the Children's Africana Book Award, Best Book for Older Readers; ALA Booklist Editors' Choice; New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age; and a unanimous vote to the ALA Best Books for Young Adults list. Allan is also the author of the ALA Best Book for Young Adults Leslie's Journal.
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