I heard Uzodinma Iewala speak about his first novel, Beasts of No Nation, at the American Library conference last week in New Orleans. It is the first addition to our new Browser shelf of Notable Books.
Few things can be more extreme than forcing a child to become a soldier. This is a slim novel with green grass, billowy clouds and a silhouetted group of youngsters on the cover. It all looks so nonthreatening, but don't be fooled. When you open this book, be ready. The story is told by Agu, who is somewhere between the age of nine and 12; and from page one, the writer snatches the reader in and does not let go until the end.
When Agu's West African village (the country is never specified) is attacked by soldiers and his father is killed, Agu (his name means "leopard" or "lion" in Igbo) escapes. He soon joins a group of militants and is forced to commit the most heinous atrocities. In turn, terrible things are done to Agu, Only another child-soldier named Strika helps Agu maintain his humanity.
Iweala was named the winner of the New York Public Library's Lions Fiction Award for this novel that honors a writer of distinction under the age of 35. He also won the Barnes and Noble “Discover Great New Writers Award” for fiction.
If you have a recommendation for the Browser Shelf, let me know.
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