Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Northern Uganda's Children

This book is a must for understanding what is going on in Africa with the horror of "child soldiers." I could not believe what I was reading, nor imagine how one could heal from such an experience. We must become more informed about what is happening around the world and do what we can to help. Since this book, I have read several others that confirm what this one said.

What a fascinating collaboration. Grace Akallo, kidnapped as a child by Ugandan soldiers, teams with Faith J. H. McDonnell, one of the foremost advocates of justice for Ugandans. Together they tell not only Grace's story but a story of grace--God's grace in the midst of human atrocities. For years rebel armies have been raiding Ugandan villages to kidnap children and force them into lives as soldiers or wives. More than 30,000 have been enslaved. This historically faithful account also is meant to inspire and inform: what can we do to stop such injustice? Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction , Spiritual Friends, and Soul Physicians.

In GIRL SOLDIER, an interesting collaboration, Grace Akallo and Faith J. H. McDonnell tell the story, which we almost never hear about, of the children of Northern Uganda. Faith gives the political and historical background and the `reasons' for the madness, while Grace gives her first-hand account of being one of those stolen children. She tells how they are forced into the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) where girls are made to be soldiers and/or given to commanders as `wives'. Along with other girls who were kidnapped from her high school, she is forced to march without food or water. Any attempt to escape means instant death, usually at the hands of the other children. The youngsters are forced to bite the escapee to death, beat with them sticks, or stab them with bayonets and many other horrendous acts. Grace, during her tenure with the LRA, was once buried alive because they thought she was dead. Fortunately, she clawed her way to the surface and survived. GIRL SOLDIER is a heartrending story of atrocities that rarely make the US newspapers or other mass media. It is the hidden shame that is frequently ignored. I found Grace to be a very strong young woman with an unbelievable will to not only survive, but to bring the world's attention to these abused young people of Uganda. The book is well written and frightening. In addition to the political background, Faith also lists several things any ordinary American citizen can do to help ease the torture of these children. It is a must read book, even though it is extremely painful. Everyone needs to know of the horrors some children must survive every day of their lives. Reviewed by Alice Holman of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

An astounding book that alternates between the girl soldier's story (in her understatement that paints a picture beyond belief) and background information from a Washington, D.C., advocate, including what we can do. Moving beyond words.