Charles London Appearing at River City Books

Submitted by the River City Raven

You don’t like to think about it. I don’t like to think about it. But then how can we not think about it?

Children and war. Those words do not belong in the same sentence but, tragically, millions of innocent kids are forced to deal with the horrors every day. What happens to children when war rages near home is the subject of Charles London’s critically acclaimed book One Day the Soldiers Came: Voices of Children in War.

London, a former researcher at Refugees International, will read from and sign copies of his book at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 11, at River City Books. I hope you will join me for an important discussion about a book worthy of attention. Kirkus Reviews calls London’s work “eye-opening … searing and heartbreaking.”

In violence-torn regions across the globe, some twenty million children have been uprooted, orphaned, or injured by war, famine, and poverty. One Day the Soldiers Came takes readers into the world of refugee children, celebrating their survival skills and revealing their rare ability to reflect. The stories London tells are chilling and touching; he offers a first-hand portrait of war beyond the headlines. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the national bestseller Eat, Pray, Love, says the book is “an unblinking account of a peculiar human reality … a wise and captivating story.”

London’s work has appeared in National Geographic, the Baltimore Times, New Voices, and ReliefWeb.

Of course, the event is free and the public is invited to attend. I should also note that the book — available in paperback — is on sale for 15 percent off at RCB through the event. I hope to see you there!

River City Books is located downtown at 306 Division Street. More information: 507-646-7754 or http://rivercity.booksense.com.

The Raven stays on top of events at River City Books and writes about them in the RCBlog.