This picture book depicts life under a military dictatorship, where people are dragged away at gunpoint for disagreeing/resisting. Although the nine-year-old boy in the story doesn't understand everything that is going on around him, he figures out that it is wrong to imprison people for having a contrary opinion. When asked, bribed even, to report his own parents' activities, he must make a difficult moral decision. Unfortunately, this is real life for many children throughout the world. 
 This book presents a balance between realism and relating the material in a child-friendly fashion. Nothing is dumbed down here, but there is no graphic violence either. Both the text and the illustrations convey the gravity and hardships of life under a dictator, but without directly telling readers what to think or feel. Readers are allowed to draw their own conclusions, and encouraged to think about their own decisions in similar circumstances. 
 Because of the complexity of concepts and the amount of text, this book is best used with upper elementary students. Great discussion starter for a classroom or group. Perfect for a writing activity - ask students to draft their own compositions.