Book post: Son of a Gun

Book cover from Eerdmans

De Graaf, A. (2012). Son of a gun. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

*Winner of a 2013 Batchelder Honor*

Nopi and Lucky are a sister and brother who lived through war in Liberia. They had to experience things as child soldiers that children should never have to know about. Nopi is 10 and Lucky is 8 when war enters their lives, and they try hard to escape it for years. Unfortunately, child soldiers are common in many places around the world, and de Graaf has written this story, based on interviews of Liberian children she met post-war, primarily to teach children what this kind of life can be like. The narrative addresses children in the Western world, and has a section at the end devoted to facts about Liberia. It is a great teaching tool for children to see another world view from the perspective of other children. While the book centers on war, the author is careful not to make the scenes too graphic for her audience; she focuses on the emotions of the characters and their love for their family.