Drone Child: A Novel of War, Family, and Survival

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.

Length is about 46,000 words or approximately 200 pages in print.

Don't miss out! Read Drone Child and root for Lemba and the other Adulas.

PRAISE FOR DRONE CHILD

"A brainy, irresistible hero braves captivity to protect his family in this riveting tale." - Kirkus Reviews.

"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 version.

"The author manages to address a number of angles in the novel, while maintaining an intriguing storyline. The writing is rich and evocative... Complete with a 'Discussion Guide,' Drone Child is at once a novel and a teaching tool." - African American Literature Book Club. 

"A tense narrative in which scenes of degradation and violence are effective without being overly graphic... A compelling story... Interesting choice for book clubs." - BlueInk Review in the American Library Association's Booklist.

"The barbarities of the conflict in Ukraine make Drone Child all the timelier." - Senior Reviewer Diane Donovan in The Midwest Book Review.

"A gripping, brutal account... Purifier general 'Demon Killer' is an astonishingly effective portrait of a sociopath..." - BookLife.
 

"...should be lauded for the frank conversations it has the power to open for younger readers." - Readers' Favorite.