This is a remarkably clear, remarkably interesting, remarkably well-researched informational graphic novel that follows the destructive life of Joseph Kony. leader of the so-called Lord's Resistance Army. The graphic novel follows him from his original raids which targeted ordinary Ugandan citizens and kidnapped and terrorized young children into joining or serving his army to the current situation where Kony crosses boarders, pursued by UN member nations, but still manages to elude capture and sow chaos.
I watch the news, I listen to NPR, and I am interested in social justice issues, so I was aware of Kony and the LRA, but I had never had a clear sense of where he came from or what the full story is. This wold be a great book for high school readers to learn the whole story. Axe interviews survivors, targets, local government officials, and former kidnap victims.
Hamilton's images are powerful. Although he seems to still be gaining skill with using panel divisions for pacing, the story reads well. Some of the images are powerfully arresting.
The story is violent and there is mention of rape and the injustice of the situation is enough to make me want to yell and kick things, but the book is suitable for use in high school history classes. It should certainly be in the classroom library of anyone who cares about getting high school students fired up about fixing the brokenness in this world.
Thanks for the recommendation. This should be a great resource for my World Cultures students, some of whom study the LRA and Kony for their Exhibit Projects.
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