An article in The New York Times’ books section points out that the second book chosen by Starbucks to feature in 6,000 of its U.S. coffee shops has much darker subject matter than the sentimental Mitch Albom novel promoted last fall. Ishmael Beah’s A Long Way Gone is an autobiographical account of his time as a child soldier in Sierra Leone.

Ken Lombard, the president of Starbucks Entertainment, said “A Long Way Gone” was “opposite in terms of the type of book, but consistent with our overall strategy of quality books.” The company, he added, is “convinced our customers are going to love this.”

They may indeed, but Starbucks might do well to carry a few more varieties of fair trade coffee. Reading about the strife Beah has survived or hearing him do a reading is definitely going to make the question of whether to have a tall dolce latte or mochacchino seem a tad trite.