In J. G. Herrera's beautifully written novella Drought, Rain, twelve-year-old boys Quay and Mabuto have never seen rain; like the others in their small African village, they long for the end of a devastating drought. After a village leader tells the people that waiting will not end the drought and that they need to take action and love again, Quay becomes determined to bring back the rain. While foreigners try to help them, and rebels fight for the soul of the nation, Quay persists with kindness, believing that rain comes from the heart. His friend Mabuto however, worried about becoming a man without a coming of age ceremony is tempted to join the rebels. Quay's kindness and strength are more than admirable, and you'll find yourself cheering for him and his selfless behavior, qualities that we all have to some degree but wish we had more of. Drought, Rain explores what it means to become a man and how to affect positive change for the greater good. Quay's story is timeless and Herrera's novella is a welcome addition to a literary tradition, carrying the reader effortlessly to a satisfying and uplifting conclusion. -- Jeffrey Penn May, author of Where the River Splits.