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abi_mgc's review
4.0
This really depicted the trials of a refugee. I loved the different perspective.
lyricalreads's review
5.0
*I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review*
N.H. Senzai’s newest novel, Escape from Aleppo, demonstrates the power of storytelling and the importance of family, history, and culture, all while creating a story that makes the topic of Syria approachable to both young and older readers. Escape from Aleppo tells the story of Nadia, a young girl living in a war-torn Syria, who attempts to flee with her family but gets separated from them during the chaos of bombs dropping nearby. Throughout the novel, Nadia often compares her life before the civil war--in which her greatest concern was mostly her painted nails--to the life full of hardship, caution, and tragedy she was currently experiencing. In this, Senzai contemplates the desensitized culture of today’s society, where the people focus on the “important” things in their life, while drowning out the problems of the rest of the world. However, through Escape from Aleppo, Senzai also re-sensitizes readers to the horrors occuring in our world, as well as the drastic differences in lifestyles (even though there are many similarities, too).
Although the main audience for this novel are middle-grade readers, older readers can still benefit from Escape from Aleppo: Senzai touches upon PTSD and anxiety (Nadia freezes when she hears the bombs because of a previous incident), fear and loneliness, and family and the idea of home. When I began reading this novel, I had a general idea of what was happening in Syria, but I was less informed than I should have been. Even though Nadia’s story is one of fiction with a happier ending, its backdrop tells the true story. In Syria, Bashar al-Assad’s authoritarian government holds control, but the emergence of multiple rebel groups challenges this corruption with, more often than not, violent strategies. Thus, Syria has been locked in a civil war since 2011, which, as Senzai writes extensively about, has destroyed more history of culture of Syria than all of the wars before.
Although the story primarily focuses on Syria, Senzai also refers to the religious conflict that has exploded in the Middle East while giving small insight into Islam and its practices, a religion which has always been peaceful. Towards the end of the novel, Nadia is exposed to ISIS, who are not portrayed as a violent militant group, as the media generally does, but rather with a more human edge. Especially in times of war, many lose the perception of people as human. As Senzai expresses in the author’s note, Escape from Aleppo allows readers to see the human faces behind the warring nations.
N.H. Senzai’s newest novel, Escape from Aleppo, demonstrates the power of storytelling and the importance of family, history, and culture, all while creating a story that makes the topic of Syria approachable to both young and older readers. Escape from Aleppo tells the story of Nadia, a young girl living in a war-torn Syria, who attempts to flee with her family but gets separated from them during the chaos of bombs dropping nearby. Throughout the novel, Nadia often compares her life before the civil war--in which her greatest concern was mostly her painted nails--to the life full of hardship, caution, and tragedy she was currently experiencing. In this, Senzai contemplates the desensitized culture of today’s society, where the people focus on the “important” things in their life, while drowning out the problems of the rest of the world. However, through Escape from Aleppo, Senzai also re-sensitizes readers to the horrors occuring in our world, as well as the drastic differences in lifestyles (even though there are many similarities, too).
Although the main audience for this novel are middle-grade readers, older readers can still benefit from Escape from Aleppo: Senzai touches upon PTSD and anxiety (Nadia freezes when she hears the bombs because of a previous incident), fear and loneliness, and family and the idea of home. When I began reading this novel, I had a general idea of what was happening in Syria, but I was less informed than I should have been. Even though Nadia’s story is one of fiction with a happier ending, its backdrop tells the true story. In Syria, Bashar al-Assad’s authoritarian government holds control, but the emergence of multiple rebel groups challenges this corruption with, more often than not, violent strategies. Thus, Syria has been locked in a civil war since 2011, which, as Senzai writes extensively about, has destroyed more history of culture of Syria than all of the wars before.
Although the story primarily focuses on Syria, Senzai also refers to the religious conflict that has exploded in the Middle East while giving small insight into Islam and its practices, a religion which has always been peaceful. Towards the end of the novel, Nadia is exposed to ISIS, who are not portrayed as a violent militant group, as the media generally does, but rather with a more human edge. Especially in times of war, many lose the perception of people as human. As Senzai expresses in the author’s note, Escape from Aleppo allows readers to see the human faces behind the warring nations.
myworldtoread's review
4.0
The story line got confusing/long-winded it seemed, but I appreciated the recent history of Syria that was told through this book. Nadia is separated from her family after a bomb hits their apartment, and on her way to reunite with them, meets three other individuals that are trying to make their way out of Syria. Along the way, they run into soliders and rebel groups that either help or hinder their journey.
utopiastateofmind's review
5.0
Senzai mixes little snippets of history, facts about the conflict in Aleppo, and the history of Nadia all together. It is this amazingly cohesive mixture that rolls off your tongue. Let me just stop this review to say, if you're looking for profound touching MG books with rich characters stop what you're reading and go get this book. It is a wonderful historical fiction that not only sheds light on the history but also on ourselves. Nadia, and all the other characters around her, are really fantastic. I fell in love with each and every single one of them.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/review-escape-aleppo-n-h-senzai/
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/review-escape-aleppo-n-h-senzai/
8little_paws's review
5.0
written for a middle grade reading level, this is still enjoyable for adults, about a 12 year old girl accidentally left behind when her family has to suddenly flee Syria. I would definitely recommend this to middle school kids and will keep an eye out for this author's other books.
msjones's review
4.0
As someone who has recently realized just how much I love and appreciate Historical Fiction, I greatly love and appreciate this novel as well. The story is utterly heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time. While trying to not give spoilers, I think this novel does a great deal of justice to the injustice that has been happening to Syria and it's people. The main character goes through flashbacks from the past 3 years or so, and ends with her taking the lead and truly having to grow up in her circumstances.
This is a beautiful coming of age novel, and I am excited to make sure that this is in my classroom library to share with students of mine to come.
This is a beautiful coming of age novel, and I am excited to make sure that this is in my classroom library to share with students of mine to come.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
4.0
Nadia is a typical pre-teen---enjoying spending time with her friends and family, delighted about being selected to appear in a tv commercial, celebrating her twelfth birthday---and then she is not. Suddenly, a man appears on tv and sets himself on fire, and Syria is at war, and Nadia's world becomes a world of bombings and soldiers and fear. Her family decides they must escape to a safer place, and Nadia unexpectedly gets separated from them and must make her own way out of the turbulent city, Aleppo, she has called home all her life.
This is an important story for children, both those who have lived through these horrors and those who have only heard of such events through the media.
This is an important story for children, both those who have lived through these horrors and those who have only heard of such events through the media.
tinkeringlibrarian's review
3.0
I feel like this book does a good job of explaining the Syrian war and refugee crisis for middle schoolers, and think it would be a good resource for social studies teachers. That said, Nadia is profoundly unlikeable, and while her selfishness is realistic, I think it’s going to be very off-putting for young readers. Recommended grades 6-9.
elizabethd's review
5.0
This is an important book and sadly relevant in our current world. The story of a girl left behind in Syria as she tries to escape to rejoin her family in a Turkish refugee camp. The tale tells of the horror of war, but intermingles with luscious flashbacks of the rich history and treasure of the country. I wish I could have seen it before the war. This would be a good book to share with students, to put a human face on the issue.
willaval's review
3.0
This was a heart-warming and thrilling children's novel about what it's like to live in a war-torn country. It follows Nadia, an average fifteen-year-old who loves singing and dancing. When her home is destroyed by the civil war in Syria, and she is forced to leave behind every comfort of her past, Nadia discovers hardship and the true history of her people. This book is a wonderful novel for middle schoolers and children, and I wish I had it when I was in elementary! I recommend it even if you're not a kid anymore — some stories are touching and brilliant even without the extravagance of YA and adult, and this is undoubtedly one of them.
Look for Escape From Aleppo in stores January 2018!
Look for Escape From Aleppo in stores January 2018!