War Brothers - Sharon McKay & Daniel LaFrance

Jacob and his friends, Paul, Tony, and Norman, are safely tucked away at a well-guarded boarding school in Uganda until the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) arrives, kills their teachers, and captures the boys to become child soldiers. Forced to endure long treks through the jungle with little or no food, the boys are beaten and forced to kill, sometimes even other child soldiers. With the help of a young girl and the army's cook, though, they eventually manage to escape.