Chanda's Wars

Chanda #2

by Allan Stratton

She promised her mama she'd keep them safe.

It's been six months since Mama died, and Chanda is struggling to raise her little brother and sister. Determined to end a family feud, she takes them to her relatives' remote rural village.

But across the nearby border, a brutal civil war is spreading. Rebels led by the ruthless General Mandiki attack at night, stealing children. All that separates Chanda from the horror is a stretch of rugged bush and a national park alive with predators. Soon, not even that. Before she knows it, Chanda must face the unthinkable, with a troubled young tracker as her unlikely ally.

"Chanda's Wars" is the unforgettable story of a teenager who risks everything to save her brother and sister. Epic in its sweep, intimate in its humanity, here is a gripping tale of family intrigue, love and courage, forgiveness and hope.

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Africa, Fiction, War, Teen, Realistic Fiction

400 pages, Hardcover

First published March 11, 2008

About the author

ALLAN STRATTON is the internationally acclaimed author of CHANDA'S SECRETS, winner of the American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Honor Book, the Children's Africana Book Award, and ALA Booklist's Editor's Choice among others. His first YA novel was the ALA Best Book LESLIE'S JOURNAL. His latest, CHANDA'S WARS, a Junior Library Guild selection, won the Canadian Library Association's Young Adult Canadian Book Award, 2009, and is on the CCBC Best Books List.

The German/South African film version of CHANDA'S SECRETS has been named an Official Selection of the 2010 Cannes International Film festival. the film title is LIFE ABOVE ALL. You can read about Allan's experiences on set on the December posts of his blog.

Allan's new novel, BORDERLINE, a coming-of-age mystery/thriller, came out in March 2010 from HarperCollins with starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal and raves in Booklist, Kirkus Reviews and Quill and quire..

He loves travel, cats and dogs, ice cream, working out, doing readings and workshops -- and, oh yes, meeting readers!

Allan is published in the USA, France, Germany, Korea, China, Japan, Vietnam, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Canada, Australia and Slovenia. You can read more about his books, and visit him online at www.allanstratton.com

Reviews

[Allan Stratton]

Hi,
I'm the author of CHANDA'S WARS and I love meeting readers. If you'd like to ask me anything about this book, feel free to email me either through this website or at my website: www.allanstratton.com

CHANDA'S WARS is about Chanda, Kabelo, a teenager in SubSaharan Africa whose young brother and sister kidnapped to become child soldiers. Together with a troubled young trapper, she risks her life in the bush to find them and bring them home. It's a story not just about a literal war, but about the multiple battles Chanda faces with family and traditions in her struggle for identity and personal independence.

I wrote CHANDA'S WARS because of the love I developed for Chanda and her family while writing the Printz Honor Book CHANDA'S SECRETS. I wanted to know what happened to them all. Then one night I woke up out of a horrible dream filled with flames and screams. I knew immediately that little Soly and Iris had been kidnapped to become child soldiers, and that I, as Chanda, would have to find a way to save them.

To write the novel, I traveled to SubSahara and met with former child soldiers and their rehabilitators, with the Dr. Philip Lancaster, executive to General Dallaire during the Rwandan genocide, and many others. I also went into the bush to learn survival skills first-hand, so that the book would be authentic.

I care about Chanda and her family very much. I hope you will too.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful companion for and worthy follow-up to Chanda's Secrets. While a reader does not have to be familiar with the first book, readers that are will find that Chanda's life has become even more complicated, and will be drawn into an involving story that has great implications in today's world. A great discussion book with a well thought-out presentation, right down to having Romeo Dallaire's comments added as an afterword.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

War brings death to families.
Dreams of her mother helped young Chandra find her way through the devastation that was happening to her country, and area.
Africa had been destroyed by famine, pestilence, AIDs and fighting between different factions.
Chandra and her siblings made friends and family of people under normal circumstances, they would have ignored them.
People adapt to their situations and circumstances using tradition, ancestors and faith to help them through trying times.

[Salsabrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vivid characters and sense of place. A compelling read that will get readers thinking about the serious issue of involving children in warfare.

[Kimberly Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took about 100 pages to get interesting, but I appreciate the character building during that time. I loved the idea that family is complicated and that we don't always connect with one another, and that's okay.

[liv · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was fascinating, it was fast paced and was for sure a page turner. I was truly able to feel Chanda's emotions and trials. Although the story line was amazing, the writing itself was boring and uninteresting, I often found myself predicting the words or sentences as it is highly repetitive. All in all, it was a great story with subpar writing.

[Amanda Drill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing book! While fiction, it is such an eye-opener to events still taking place in the world today. It pulls you in by piecing together so many different aspects and genres like romance, adventure, mystery, and more! I definitely recommend it!

[Mar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book picks up six months after Chanda's Secrets and explores the theme of war in Africa and the use of child soldiers and the trauma inflicted on all--those directly and indirectly involved. I wonder if Chanda and Nelson are too young to do what the story has them do.

[Shoshana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding fictionalized depiction of child soldiers and the toll taken from war. Also wonderful illustrations of average life in a peaceful African nation. A must read!

[Kareen Samuels · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written story of forgiveness and the indomitable strength of the human spirit. A young girl with so much on her plate and so much love in her heart.

[Bailey Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

i liked the story but the storyline for me wasnt what i thought the book would be about

[Bless · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely exceptional in every single way! The first book and second are superbly fantastic! This has been an awesome series to learn from. Nice job Mr. Stratton! I recommend this book to young girls and boys waiting for an adventure as they grow and enter teenage years. Definitely more than 5 star worthy.

[Shanti · Rating 5 out of 5]

UPDATE 19/4/2015
Chanda’s Wars by Allan Stratton
I’ve tried to read this book once a year since I was 12. I don’t regret it. Strong and identifiable characters, a complex and interesting plot and themes of family and forgiveness mean that this book still deserves 5 stars. Also, Nelson is good looking, which always helps.
Chanda is fabulous. In book one, we see that she loves her family and keeps her promise, but she also has real issues and troubles and gets angry. Just seeing the decision making process she used to go to Tiro and her interactions with Iris, Esther and Mrs. Tafa help me to understand her well. I love her willingness- but also struggles to forgive and her headstrong determination to save her siblings at any cost. Esther and Mrs. Tafa aren’t so important in this book, but I still love them a lot. Stratton makes even side characters complex and awesome. Iris is a really interesting character to read. I understand her pretty well. I also love to hear about Soly. And the end part with the bad dreams. That was done so realistically. It’s one of my favourite parts. Because happily ever afters aren’t that common and wounds don’t get magically healed. Chanda lives in the real world. Nelson is also a fabulously written character and what he says and does really helps me to understand him. Seeing everyones backstory at Tiro was a good way to add more depth to the characters.
This book is set in Africa. The plot moves through AIDS (though this one is more focused on war) family curses and kidnapping. Stratton isn’t afraid to tackle the hard things and I love that. Seeing the complexities of such a war is good. I forgot about this, but the kidnapping doesn’t really get going until 200 pages in and there are 50 pages afterwards in the end. This allows the themes and characters to develop, and I love that. The setting is also written well and realistically. The plot never stops moving, and flows smoothly. The foreshadowing through dreams and newspapers and instincts also works nicely. I would say though that this book is more character than plot focused.
I love the themes in this book. Not all contemporary YA has to feature romance, and this book embraces that. The idea that family is support and love and safety is nicely developed, especially through interactions at Tiro, but I like that Mrs. Tafa and Esther are part of that. The fact that Granny forgave and blessed was so good. There was conflict and sadness and death- that is, reality- but just like Pandora, this book ends with Hope. The way that Chanda and Nelson overcome their families and grief is really real. Other notable themes are: hope, tradition, journeying and transformation.
This book is fun to read because of the characters yet heartbreaking because of what happens to the characters. IT is a book that I think everybody should read no matter how hard it is for them. I love this book, and it transcends human experience with a riveting and honest story. GO READ IT NOW.!!!!
OLD REVIEWThis book is really excellent. I just love Chanda- she is a really rich character. The author researched this book so well. I didn't know much about Sub-Saharan Africa's conflicts before this and this has really helped me to learn more. I enjoyed the way that Chanda was so loyal to her family.
The way that the characters were really loyal to their family was amazing. Chanda is such a strong character, but realistic. The way that they foiled General Mandiki was clever- I wonder what the author felt about that. Nelson was a great and rich character which I liked, both as a love interest and a friend.. I have read this book three times already and I will definitely read them again

[Canadian Children's Book Centre]

In this follow-up to the highly-lauded Chanda’s Secrets, Allan Stratton continues Chanda’s story as she struggles to bring up her little brother and sister in the wake of their mother’s death. In addition to the multitude of worries that plague her each day, Chanda is haunted by a recurring and disturbing nightmare. Mrs. Tafa, their neighbour, convinces her that the dream is a sign that she must return to Tiro, the home of her mother’s family, and make peace with her estranged relatives. So Chanda and Soly and Iris set off to be reunited with their kin. After a promising beginning to their visit, things rapidly fall apart. Before they can return to their home, a brutal rebel leader attacks the village and kidnaps all the children to use as child soldiers. Nearly overcome with guilt, grief and despair, Chanda sets out to find and rescue her young siblings. Stratton has crafted an utterly gripping and unforgettable tale. Chanda is a compelling character who tries repeatedly to know and do what’s right. Her vulnerability, coupled with her determination and her fierce devotion to Soly and Iris, make her an entirely believable heroine. As in his earlier book, the author provides an informative and revealing depiction of life in Chanda’s African homeland, giving North American readers an opportunity to experience the realities of lives so very different from our own. What makes this book so powerful is its unflinching portrayal of the cruel practice of forcing young children into service as soldiers. This chilling and horrific practice is rendered frighteningly real here and is a sobering reminder of the terrible injustices that are perpetuated in our world today. Chanda’s harrowing journey is one that will leave both teen and adult readers breathless, emotionally drained and with much to think about.

Reviewed by Lisa Doucet in Canadian Children's Book News
Winter 2008 VOL.31 NO.1

[Lillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave "Chanda's Secrets", the previous book, 5 stars. I gave this one 4. This book is memorable and works to develop its characters as people in a world against them, something I truly admire. Chanda is as headstrong as ever, this time traveling to another part of the country to visit her extended family after her mother has passed away from AIDS. She fights jealousy due to her younger siblings taking to more maternal figures like her aunt and grandmother, uncertainty because she is so young in such an important role, and outrage because her family has accused her mother of betraying and cursing them for not agreeing to arranged marriage to an abusive man. Now they want Chanda to right that wrong by marrying the man's son.

This is all interrupted when the entire country hears word that General Mandiki (think Kony) is rallying his army of child soldiers and is planning his attacks on the areas around them. Chanda lives in fear and those fears become reality when her family's compound is attacked by the general and many are killed. Her younger siblings, Soly and Iris, are kidnapped along with her betrothed's younger brother. Now she and Nelson, her betrothed, must save their siblings and fight Mandiki.

And this is where the book runs into problems. Nelson becomes a deus ex machina, just happening to know tracking techniques and Chanda quickly learns tracking as well. They implausibly manage to kill Mandiki in a strange turn of events, and I couldn't help but think, this would never happen. The book all of a sudden turns her into Liam Neeson from "Taken", except less adept. Overall, this part is just confusing, implausible, and distracting.

This book in a general sense is a very good book. The characters are some of the best I've ever read, and the struggle seems real. I have no doubt that this is what really goes on in Africa. I just have one question: Is there a sequel?

[Niral · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chanda's wars is a novel based on a young woman's struggles throughout a fictional war in Africa. Her mother who has recently passed, about 6 months ago is the reason for her living. She died of AIDS, in the village of Tiro where all of Chanda's relatives live. Her mother carried a "family curse." That is why one day her grandmother tells Chanda she needs to pay a visit to her family in Tiro. Chanda has no interest in visiting the place where her mother passed away, but with the convincing of her family in Bonang she decided to take the visit. Throughout her visit she faces Mandiki and his rebels, whom are creating a child army. They attack Tiro and take Chanda's siblings with them. With the help of Nelson, their neighbour, Chanda was on her way to try and bring them back.

I picked this book up because of a recommendation. Personally, I find it difficult to find a good book to read. I asked someone who has read a lot of books to help me choose a book that I would enjoy. He then briefly explained to me what this novel was about, after hearing "child army" I thought I'd enjoy it, which I did.

I finished this book because it kept getting more and more interesting, chapter by chapter. The suspense of them getting caught, or their home being bombarded, or her catching AIDS would always run through my mind. Would she get AIDS like her mother? Would her whole family die? What will happen to her siblings? Would the war ever end? I had to finish this book in order to get the answers to my questions.

I would recommend this book to Supar. I think Supar would enjoy reading a book like this because of suspense and violence included in this book. If you have read When the black girl sings, Broken China or Kendra you would enjoy this book. Even if you haven't, I'd recommend any teenager to read this book.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review: http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2013/08/review-chandas-wars-by-allan-stratton.html

For the past six months, Chanda has had to become an adult in caring for her two younger siblings. The pain of losing her mother to AIDS is still fresh for Chanda, especially the shame and stigma surrounding the disease. Chanda decides to take her brother and sister to see their relatives, determined to end a bitter feud and mending their relationship. Little does Chanda realizes is that a horrifying attack conducted by the ruthless General Mandiki with his band of child soldiers, will reek destruction and death throughout the whole village. With a young tracker accompanying her along with her wits and courage, Chanda will venture out and try to rescue her two siblings whose lives hang in the balance.
I first read "Chanda's Wars" back in 2009 and it wasn't until yesterday that I saw it on the shelve at the local library. It took me less than a day to finish the book. Four years later, it took me little more than five hours to finish. The story is fiction, but the circumstances are very real. Hundreds of thousands of children are being used as soldiers, forced to commit acts that no child should ever do. At times it is hard to read, but the story itself and it's heroine, will keep you reading until the wee hours of the morning (like me).
"Chanda's Wars" is a heartbreaking, horrifying, but life-affirming story filled to the brim with humanity, courage, love, and hope. Allan Stratton has done justice for the children whose lives are destroyed by war and giving us a story worth reading and a cause worth fighting for.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Grandma Bev for TeensReadToo.com

This fictional treatment of the genocide wars of Africa felt realistic. Though this is a sequel to CHANDA'S SECRETS, this story is a stand alone book. Through Stratton's vivid imagination, we follow Chanda and her small brother and sister as they travel to the next town to visit their grandparents and other relatives.

Chanda's family wants her to marry Nelson, the son of a man who they wanted her mother to marry many years ago. Chanda is shocked, and adamant that she will not marry this boy. As Chanda and her siblings prepare to leave and return to their home, the rebel band of Mandiki attacks the village and kills her grandfather, among many other people, and kidnaps the children. Nelson's little brother was captured earlier and forced to be a guide to the bandits.

Chanda swears that wherever the kids are, she will find them and rescue them. Nelson catches up with her and, together, they set out to find the rebels and save the children. Tracking the band is fraught with difficulties, including hard to follow tracks, crocodiles, and the African heat in the unforgiving bush country.

The characters are likable and sympathetic, and Allan Stratton is a master at crafting a fast-paced plot that keeps you reading to the very satisfying end. It was altogether a very entertaining and captivating story.

The end of the book contains an interview with the author, Nelson's recipe for biltong, "Sixteen Things I'll Never Forget" by the author, an excerpt from his next book, information on rewriting the end of CHANDA'S WARS, and a drawing by a child soldier.

[Yoo Kyung Sung · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of a girl protagonist's journey after her mother passed away. After her mother passed away, Chanda has to be a parent to her younger siblings reaffirming her relationship in community with her neighbors and her friends. Because the way her mother resisted a long tradition, arranged forced marriage, Chanda's mother's death and struggles in her mother's family are blamed for her unlucky destiny. The story brings rich African old traditions that are rich and also pretty oppressive social attitudes against female. Perhaps that is Westerner's point of view, Chanda's life to be expected to sacrifice for the sake of the community. Such story makes Chanda's again another typically "DIFFERENT" strong girl protagonist who resist not to be like other compliant girls whom the society values- no need to be educated, married and dependent to spouse' income, having kids, etc. Because of the old tension with her mother side family, Chanda decides to travel her mother town with her young siblings. Later rebels kidnaps her younger siblings and Chanda and Nelson who was suggested to be her groom starts their journey to rescue their younger siblings from the rebels.

If I read this story first, I might loved it more than now. After I read several child-soldiers story, Chanda's story seemed to be lengthened unnecessarily with too much intervening plots. In the end, I struggle to keep loving this book by the time I reached 360 page. She is too Hollywood female worrier like due to her siblings who by the way too mature to be their age that i got confused at certain point. It reminds me of A GIRL NAMED DISASTER by Nancy Farmer.

[Elly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Struggling to take care of her siblings after her mother died, a dream warned Chanda to travel to Tiro for safety. When she arrived to Tiro on a wagon and stayed her family, the area was attacked by General Mandiki a few weeks later, stealing her siblings and other children. All seemed well afterwards when General Mandiki was pronounced dead, but not Chanda's siblings and the other people who were intimately affected. Now, Chanda had an arduous time trying to have a good relationship with her siblings, after they were traumatized by what Mandiki had done to them.

I picked up this book because this was one of the books that was one the list of the English assignment, that touches real life topics such as AIDS, poverty, and children warfare. I like to read these kinds of books because it's more relatable and I wanted to know the lives of the people and how they felt and were treated, so that I can be more understandable towards them.

I finished this book because I love how the author uses a lot of imagery. One example of imagery is when Chanda and Nelson found a little boy that was lying on the ground. He looked like he was dead from all the hard work and pain that was inflicted on him. It was a gruesome scene because you can clearly visualize what had happened: “It’s a child. He’s maybe twelve, sprawled facedown, naked. His calves are as puffed as balloons, the gangrenous flesh blistered to bursting. Above the knees, though, he’s scrawny, bruised skin stuck tight to his ribs and skull, arms all tendon and bone” (Stratton 280).

I would recommend this book to Sandy because she likes books that talk about topics that occur in real life.

[Laura Petto · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the perfect read for this season. I’m not saying that it has anything to do with the holidays, but it put me in perspective. How can I be so materialistic, wanting so much stuff, when there are people, CHILDREN!, fighting wars in Africa?

Chanda’s Wars hit me really hard last night after reading it. It is the kind of book that makes you want to get up and do something about the violence in the world. Chanda is a great character, because most people can connect with her.

I haven’t read the first book, Chanda’s Secrets, but I found that it really didn’t matter. Chanda is grieving her mother, who was abused by her own family and died of AIDS. Now Chanda has the care of her brother Soly and her sister Iris, so she must drop out of school.

I can’t tell too much, or else I’d give the plot away. Stratton describes the brutal child soldiers and what happens afterwards with heart wrenching accuracy. Chanda’s Wars is a very hard book to read, because half the time, you don’t want to know what happens next. You’re too afraid for Chanda, Soly, and Iris.

I really didn’t expect to read this book so fast. I was saving it for Christmas Holiday, but I started, and just couldn’t stop. This book has started me thinking about many things, and now I really want to help somehow the child soldiers in Africa.

[David Medina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sequel of Chanda’s Secrets which is Chanda’s wars is not that much of an interesting book for me. Chanda’s secret’s is more interesting than Chanda’s wars because it has suspense a lot of taboos and secrets. Chanda’s war’s wasn’t like Chanda’s secrets at all, and I say that the originals are always the best. Chanda’s wars didn’t want me to keep reading it but still I had too because I wanted to see if I had a favorite part. My favorite part of the book was when Iris steps up for her sister Chanda when she was in trouble. What I didn’t like of the book it’s not very great, it wasn’t good it wasn’t bad, it was ok. What I feel about the characters is that they matured a little, and Mrs. .Tafa got a little nicer. I think Iris grew the most because she step for her sister and listened to Chanda more often know.
I recommend this book to teenagers because it has a little more inappropriate language and it’s a little violent. It’s an ok book for teenagers ages 13-16. Children become a little more mature between the ages 12 and up, but still I recommend 13 year olds and up. I prefer adventure readers to read this book. This book it’s an adventure type book, so that’s why I recommend these book for adventures.

[bjneary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like Chanda's Secret, this continuation of Chanda's story has Chanda, now protecting her brother, Soly, and her sister, Iris, wrestling with a recurring dream that shatters her nights. It is this dream that sends her back to her mother's home, Tiro,where she died 6 months before. But there is trouble brewing in the form of a madman leader, known as Mandiki, who takes innocent children and forces them to become child soldiers in his quest to spread a civil war. Mandiki steals Soly & Iris and Pako, brother to Nelson, who lives next door and tends sheep. Chanda and Nelson, who is not too keen on this undertaking, take their lives in hands to rescue their loved ones. Stratton's portrayal of child soldiers is chilling, both in their psychology and the torment and fear they suffer at the hands of diabolical rebels. And just as in the first book, Chanda is open, honest and refuses to give in to fear where her family is concerned. I will defintely recommend this book for Reading Olympics next year!

[Yessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was going to be good because when I read the back cover it sounded so interesting. I really didn’t like Chanda’s Wars because is not interesting like Chanda’s Secrets. I like much better Chanda’s Secrets because it was more interesting. The only part that I like in Chanda’s Wars was when Ms.tafa was missing and Chanda went to look for Ms.Tafa. Chanda was worried about Ms.Tafa. I think it was much better Chanda’s Secrets because they talked about their families and their dreams and how their families died and they have a lot of secrets.
Well I would recommend this book to a person who really wants to read this book. I think that maybe some other person would like this. I think I would recommend this book to the person who really wants to read this book. I think its not boring but its kind of confusing. I really want to recommend this book to the person who really wants to read this book. But its not boring its kind of funny the person who wants to read this book your probably going to like it.

[Steen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Clarinet.
This was possible the best book i have EVER read. Yes, better than Twilight, better than The Host. Yeah. That good. It was stunning. It was chilling and provocative. It made me want to cry.
I read on every page the truth about African lifestyle--they aren't just crazy tribal people. I'm reading it and realizing how big the AIDS virus is there. Wow. Just, wow.
And I knew a little bit about the war in Uganda, where the leader, Joseph, kidnaps children and uses psychology to convince them to listen to him and give up hope. But reading this book, about a fictional war in a different country, but with the same situation...it totally changed my take on it. I saw the position of the children's loved ones first hand. I saw how changed they were when they returned, and how Joseph (Or in this book, his counterpart Mendaki) scars them for life. It was awful, and I feel every minute of their pain.
It was...just...amazing.

[Yaneth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not like this book because they talk about a lot of people that are not really care in this book and because is cane boring. Well the part that I like in this book it’s when Chanda try to fine Mrs. Tafa and her brother and sister. But the par that I don’t get it is when they talk about abandoned but they don’t say who was the person that are in abandoned. Well I think it’s much better the other book “Chandas Secret’s” because they talk about how her family death and talk about her dreams and a lot of secrets.

Well I recommended for the person that maybe want to read this book. But maybe a lot of people like this book because they read and they think that is interesting. But I recommended reading this book for the person that want because it’s not much boring it’s like confusing. But it’s fun I really recommended for the person who wants to know in this book. I recommended for the person who want to know how the persons get HID.

[Shubhi Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chanda’s Wars - “Get Soly and Iris to safety...” After Chanda’s mother dies of AIDS,young Chanda is left with the sole responsibilty to taking care of her younger siblings, only, things aren’t looking up to her. Six months after her mother’s death, she still dreams about wars and bloodshed and her mother instructing her to take Soly and Iris to safety, to Tiro before it’s too late. So Chanda is horrified when rebels attack and her nightmare actually starts playing in front of her eyes. Now she must undertake a risky journey, with an unlikely companion and bring her little brother and sister back from captivity, only will she succeed? And what will be the price? Her own life? Or more than that...?

[Jenni Frencham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever since Chanda's mother died of AIDS, she has been tasked with raising her younger brother and sister and taking care of their African home. Her dreams of finishing high school and winning a scholarship are put on hold for the time being as she works as a teacher at the local elementary school, cleans the house in the evenings, and makes sure her brother and sister get to school on time.

All of this changes when a rebel general enters the country and begins wreaking havoc everywhere he goes. Suddenly the job of caring for two little ones in addition to herself becomes a battle for survival. Chanda has to track down the rebel general and his army of child soldiers and rescue her brother and sister.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This powerful book that takes place in a fictional, peaceful African country. The neighboring country is in the midst of a civil war however, and the rebel general infiltrates and seizes the children to make them soldiers. Chanda is guardian to her brother and sister who are taken and vows to rescue them because she promised her mother, who died of AIDS, that she would always care for them. I liked how the book depicted a peaceful African nation, since all we hear about is war in Africa. I also think its vitally important to know about the children soldiers and how they are "recruited". A very good, engaging book.

[Rosalee]

This is the sequel book to Chanda's secrets. It continues on with Chanda'a life stories on how now her mom has died and she has been having bad dreams. Her neighbors tell her to go back to her homeland because things with her mother's family was never settled. When she goes back she encounters many problems including a war going on between a dangerous man that tries to conquer her mother land. Also she meets a handsome boy in which they stick together to find their brothers in sisters who have been taken captive and made into child soldiers. Thebook tells if she ever got them back and if her life can ever be normal again.