Free US delivery on orders $35 or over
You must sign in to add this item to your wishlist. Please sign in or create an account
The stunning memoir of a Muslim teen struggling to survive in the midst of the Bosnian genocide-and the stray cat who protected her family through it all.
*Six Starred Reviews*
"Extraordinary." - Booklist | "A must-read." - School Library Journal | "Unforgettable." - Kirkus | "Gripping." - Foreword | "Excellent." - School Library Connection | "As timely as it is effective." - Publishers Weekly
A YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist
A Capitol Choices Remarkable Book
A Mighty Girl Best Book
A Malala Fund Favorite Book Selection
In 1992, Amra was a teen in Bihac, Bosnia, when her best friend said they couldn't speak anymore. Her friend didn't say why, but Amra knew the reason: Amra was Muslim. It was the first sign her world was changing. Then Muslim refugees from other Bosnian cities started arriving, fleeing Serbian persecution. When the tanks rolled into Bihac, bringing her own city under seige, Amra's happy life in her peaceful city vanished.
But there is light even in the darkest of times, and she discovered that light in the warm, bonfire eyes of a stray cat. The little calico had followed the refugees into the city and lost her own family. At first, Amra doesn't want to bother with a stray; her family doesn't have the money to keep a pet. But with gentle charm this kitty finds her way into everyone's heart, and after a few near miracles when she seems to save the family, how could they turn her away?
Here is the stunning true story of a teen who, even in the brutality of war, never wavered in her determination to obtain an education, maintain friendships, and even find a first love-and the cat who gave comfort, hope, and maybe even served as the family's guardian spirit.
Published | Sep 15 2020 |
---|---|
Format | Hardback |
Edition | 1st |
Extent | 384 |
ISBN | 9781547604531 |
Imprint | Bloomsbury YA |
Dimensions | 9 x 6 inches |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
Gripping. . . . Sabic-El-Rayess's visual imagination is a slipstream. Amra's words have a subtle, relentless force, creating a world where life is a danger, a demand, and a warm, calico presence.
Foreword Reviews, starred review
Boldly tackles the rawness of human emotion in times of severe distress. . . . Unforgettable.
Kirkus Reviews, starred review
An excellent discussion starter.
School Library Connection, starred review
Her prose balances verve and gentleness as she discusses the horrors of war alongside moments of levity. . . . A must-read nonfiction addition.
School Library Journal, starred review
Exceptional. . . . The author has an extraordinary ability to recreate both the beauty and brutality of these years.
Booklist, starred review
[A] memoir about the transformative power of love, connection, and education. . . . as timely as it is effective.
Publishers Weekly, starred review
Free US delivery on orders $35 or over
Your School account is not valid for the United States site. You have been logged out of your account.
You are on the United States site. Would you like to go to the United Kingdom site?
Error message.