I loved this book and I'm sure da yoof will, too. Don't underestimate them.
For children who like reading issue-based books, child soldiers are also explored in [[Chalkline by Jane Mitchell]] and this time the setting is Kashmir. Children used in forced labour is written about powerfully in [[Lost Riders by Elizabeth Laird]] and [[Bitter Chocolate by Sally Grindley]]. You might appreciate [[The Shadow Speaker by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu]] but we had our reservations.