The boy's name is Tesfahun. Nestled in the vastness of Ethiopia, he lives among the Akara, an ancient tribe untouched by modern civilization. His people live an isolated life where revenge killings are common and life is ruled by superstitions where cursed babies are thrown into the river for the sake of the tribe. As friends are forced to avenge the tribe and children disappear in the night, Tesfahun begins to question the beliefs of his grief stricken mother and hardened father. After his initiation into manhood, Tesfahun discovers a dark secret that pushes him to flee across the Omo River and into the territory of his people's enemies. In this new harsh land, he crashes into his deepest fears and must decide if he will resist the violence around him or be consumed by it. Based on current tribal practices, The Cry of Dry Bones is a mythic coming-of-age story that takes readers into the untouched regions of the Omo Valley to examine the meaning of belonging, identity, and sacrifice.