Lemba Adula is the perfect 15-year-old--brilliant, hardworking and polite to his elders. He excels at flying drones and coaxing new tricks out of smartphones and computers. But murderous Congolese rebels kidnap Lemba and force him to kill. He also must train other child soldiers and even help hijack a giant container ship.
Drone Child is a powerful thriller and adventure story recommended for mature readers aged 18 and above. Younger readers should receive guidance and engage in dialogue with parents, teachers or librarians due to the book's mature content. Sex traffickers kidnap Lemba's sister, a gifted rumba singer, highlighting a real-life crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Also, Drone Child contains elements of violence.
The novel includes satirical passages that critically address the inhumanity of violence-loving individuals. Lemba is a crack shot both on the firing range and when hunting for food. At the same time, he's far from the typical action hero and empathizes with the families of the people he must kill.
For authenticity and cultural sensitivity, author David H. Rothman enlisted the expertise of two Congolese fact-checkers. Junior Boweya is a translator, software localization expert, and businessman. Jean Felix Mwema Ngandu is a former Mandela Washington Fellow and prominent civic activist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Both experts endorse the book and hope for translations into Lingala and French. Rothman has long been interested in issues affecting developing countries, especially technological ones.
Positive reviews have appeared in Kirkus, The Midwest Book Review, and the American Library Association's Booklist. "A hefty tapestry interwoven with the possibilities for change," says the African American Literature Book Club. "In the context of our current times, this is a hope worth having."
The second edition includes a new cover and a discussion guide for book clubs, parents, teachers and librarians. Drone Child also offers an informative section that compares events in the book with real happenings in the Congo.
Additionally, the war in Ukraine makes this thriller more relevant than ever due to the moral questions that arise regarding drones and war in general, including atrocities against civilians.
Don't miss out! Read Drone Child and root for Lemba and the other Adulas.
"Share this action-packed, sensitively rendered audio with fans of Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone and Emmanuel Jal's War Child." - Library Journal on the audiobook edition.
"In this gripping story, Rothman delivers an immensely appealing young protagonist whose brisk, first-person narration teems with colorful details. " - Kirkus Reviews.
"Complete with a 'Discussion Guide, ' Drone Child is at once a novel and a teaching tool... A hefty tapestry interwoven with the possibilities for change. In the the context of our current times, this is a hope worth having." - Denolyn Carroll, African American Literature Book Club.
"The writing is well-edited, smooth and impactful. Mixing invented tribes with well-vetted facts about the Congo, the author creates a tense narrative in which scenes of degradation and violence are effective without being overly graphic..." - BlueInk Review in the American Library Association's Booklist.
"A gripping, brutal account of a near-future African war, narrated by a young soldier... Purifier general 'Demon Killer' is an astonishingly effective portrait of a sociopath..." - BookLife.
"The barbarities of the conflict in Ukraine make Drone Child all the timelier, although Rothman's themes are timeless... Rothman's ability to use the microcosm of a child's experiences of war to translate it to bigger-picture thinking about community, relationships, and conflicts results in a gripping story highly recommended for a wide range of readers; especially those interested in the lives, motives, and influences of modern-day Africans." - D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, The Midwest Book Review.
"A harsh but compelling discussion on the real-world plight of child soldiers, Drone Child should be lauded for the frank conversations it has the power to open for younger readers." - K.C. Finn, Readers' Favorite, in a Five Star review.
"A disturbing novel on the harsh realities of what is happening in Africa. The characters are well developed and really make you care about what is happening to them. The story is well told and is a quick read. I highly recommend this book to all." - Ron B, Reviewer, NetGalley.