Dry Season

Gr 10 Up—There is no doubt that this series will raise awareness of the situation facing those living in northern Uganda in 2002. Even though the story is fiction, the facts behind it are real. In this volume, Dr. Moses Lwanga is trying to help those in an IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camp. He escaped the country as a boy and has returned to help. These camps are full of disease due to poor sanitation. He is ready to settle in until there is a murder, and he is sent out among the refugees where the war is raging. The harsh language and violent full-color pictures are an honest depiction of what happens daily in this war-torn country. Teens may need to read the afterword in order to fully understand the message that is conveyed. This is more than just a graphic novel for mature readers. It is clear through the story that Dysart has visited this part of the world and researched the situation well. This is an intense read and an honest depiction of a real problem. Older fans of the series will impatiently wait for more.—Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI