BURMA BOY

A FEW MONTHS AGO FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD ALI BANANA WAS APPRENTICED TO A WHIP-WIELDING BLACKSMITH IN HIS RURAL HOMETOWN. NOW ITS WINTER 1944, THE WAR IS ENTERING ITS MOST CRUCIAL STAGE AND ALI IS A PRIVATE IN THUNDER BRIGADE. HIS UNIT HAS BEEN GIVEN ORDERS TO GO BEHIND ENEMY LINES AND WREAK HAVOC. BUT THE BURMESE JUNGLE IS A MUD-RIVEN, TREACHEROUS PLACE, RIDDLED WITH JAPANESE SNIPERS, INSANITY AND DISEASE. "BURMA BOY" IS A HORRIFIC, VIVIDLY REALISED ACCOUNT OF THE MADNESS, THE SACRIFICE AND THE DARK HUMOUR OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR'S MOST VICIOUS BATTLEGROUND. IT'S ALSO THE MOVING STORY OF A BOY TRYING TO LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO BECOME A MAN.