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This is an awesome book. It is full of violence, but the most harrowing thing about it is that, although it takes place in the made-up country of Nagaland, it has many paralells with historical truth and with the present-day situation. I first read this book 5 or so years ago. I am now in college, and the more I learn about colonization and contemporary Africa, the truer AK seems. There really are child-soldiers like Paul Kagomi. More importantly, this book is well written. You will find yourself cheering for Paul and Jilli. The characterization and plotting are excellent, and while the book is sad in some respects, it is realistic and not dissapointing. The dual endings show the best and worst possible outcomes to Paul and Nagaland's situaltion, and while the best is uplifting, the worst is absolutely chilling. This amazing book NEEDS to go back into print! Track it down anyway.

AK is truly a book worth reading; it has action, adventure, drama, and friendship in it. With never-ending suspense around the corner, its hard to stop reading this book until you've finished it! With historical fiction embedded in the pages, you'll find it hard to believe that this is history! AK happens to center on a boy of 12 named Paul Kagomi. He is an orphen in the civil war of Nagala, where the NLA (Nagala Liberation Army) fostered and cared for him. Paul was schooled in violence, and has put his trust onto his little AK to protect him. With an overseer named Michael Kagomi, Paul and his fellow Warriors help liberate Nagala piece by piece. Then it happened. Just as easily as the war had begun, it ended. Now Paul can have a real family with his foster father: Michael. But in the midst of the delicate peace, Michael is kidnapped and taken to a concentration camp. Now Paul must free his father and destroy the corrupt African Government."My mother with the war.She was a witch, a terrible demon, eater of people, but she looked after me. It's not my fault that I loved her."-Paul Kagomi I kind of liked this story because of its adventure and the cover art, which I thought was cool (and a tad bit funny), but I really like the main character. It sort of reminded me of myself. In a way, Paul and I are alike because we both want to prove to others that we aren't just children. We are the future, the next generation. Anyways, AK is always a thriller, a book that gets you on the edge of your seat then makes you want to come back for more.

Dickinson's novel of coming of age in the midst of civil war is far more than an adventure novel for teenagers. This is a very sensitive appraisal of the emotional costs of conflict that are all too real a part of growing up in many parts of the world.

What is unique about this novel is the portrayal of life on the African continent in one of these unstable countries. Governments that are here today are gone tomorrow, and adults reading this book will find it educational more so than Young Adults because of this element. However, it is an excellent tale for Young Adults in terms of action and adventure for it places a young boy into very adult minded situations. Books that force their adolescent main characters into adult situations are always popular, and this one is no different. It is not surprising that this novel won an award. It conjures up images for the reader of Lord of the Flies, and other similar novels. It is an excellent addition to any YA section.

I am a 12 year old and I have red this noval. There are some parts of it that were very confussing for me and I had to ask the teacher. But by chapter 9 I at least understood the main parts and at the end of it It all came clear to me. So, if you are having trouble figuring out what the book is about read alittle more and maybe it will come to you.