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kaneebli's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Grief, War, Xenophobia, Genocide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Physical abuse, Fatphobia, Rape, and Pedophilia
serendipitysbooks's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Girl at War is an adult novel but was given an Alex award, meaning it will also appeal to readers aged between 12 and 18. We first meet Ana in Zagreb in 1991 when she enjoys a fairly typical childhood. It isn’t long before Yugoslavia’s civil war intrudes and forever alters the trajectory of Ana’s life and that of her family. Ten years later she is a college student in America but the shadows and scars caused by the conflict in Yugoslavia are very evident. Her experience in bearing arms in order to ensure her own survival, and the toll this took on her, was especially striking. So too was her broader reckoning with what had happened in her country and the many lasting impacts that had on her life. With news cycles being so short this book is a good reminder that the fallout from conflicts continues long after the foreign news cameras have left.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide and Gun violence
alexture's review
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, War, and Violence
Moderate: Mass/school shootings and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Rape and Alcoholism
annareads9898's review
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I found this novel slightly difficult to "get into" at first, I had to re start it a few times because I did not feel like I was giving it my full attention. I liked how the book operated between three/four different timelines and events, it kept the Yugoslavian War and the genocide that occurred front and center instead of cramming it into one section of the book. I only gave it 3 and a half stars because I did not feel Ana as a fully formed character. She was the main character of the book but I felt the descriptions of her and the descriptions of her inner monologue to be very stop and go, like the events in her life were never finished. This could have been done purposely so, just not the type of prose that I usually enjoy. Sara Novic, the author of this novel, is deaf and in my copy of the book there was a section in the back devoted to her talking about being a deaf author which I found to be extremely interesting and worthy of evaluation. She seems to be a great advocate for HOH (hard of hearing) persons rights.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Death, Genocide, and Gun violence
Moderate: Grief, Murder, Racial slurs, and Violence
adel's review
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
First attempted the audiobook but the reader was pronouncing things strangely. Sped through the physical copy! This had been on my TBR since it came out and I'm so glad to have finally read it. I could have kept reading about Ana and her journey through the past and present.
Life's Library Readathon 2020 - Chamomile prompt
Enjoy a cup of tea while reading. (lavender lemon)
Life's Library Readathon 2020 - Chamomile prompt
Enjoy a cup of tea while reading. (lavender lemon)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Sexual violence, and Violence
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