The King's Rifle

It's winter 1944 and the Second World War is entering its most crucial state. A few months ago fourteen-year-old Ali Banana was a blacksmith's apprentice in his rural hometown in West Africa; now he's trekking through the Burmese jungle. Led by the unforgettably charismatic Sergeant Damisa, the unit has been given orders to go behind enemy lines and wreak havoc. But Japanese snipers lurk behind every tree--and even if the unit manages to escape, infection and disease lie in wait. Homesick and weary, the men of D-Section Thunder Brigade refuse to give up.

Taut and immediate, The King's Rifle is the first novel to depict the experiences of black African soldiers in the Second World War. This is a story of real life battles, of the men who made the legend of the Chindits, the unconventional, quick-strike division of the British Army in India. Brilliantly executed, this vividly realized account details the madness, sacrifice, and dark humor of that war's most vicious battleground. It is also the moving story of a boy trying to live long enough to become a man.

Author: Biyi Bandele
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Published: 03/24/2009
Pages: 224
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.38lbs
Size: 7.98h x 5.42w x 0.53d
ISBN: 9780061582660

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 10/20/2008 pg. 29
Kirkus Reviews 12/01/2008 pg. 1215
Essence 04/01/2009 pg. 60
School Library Journal 08/01/2009 pg. 129

About the Author
Bandele, Biyi: -

Biyi Bandele is an award-winning novelist, playwright, and director. He was born in Nigeria and is the son of a veteran of the Burma campaign. The Independent named him one of Africa's fifty greatest artists. He lives in London.