june_englit_phd 's review for:

American War by Omar El Akkad

4.0

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This is a compelling novel which pivots around a second American Civil War in the year 2074 and one family's fortunes and misfortunes resulting from it. Our protagonist is Sarat Chestnut, a boyish and plucky twin whose portrayal in the narrative is so well written that it is very easy for a reader to relate to her. The book describes the divisiveness and cruelty of this second USA war, concentration camps, methods of torture (though not in great detail, but adequate for the novel), and the psychological after-effects that conflict and its repercussions can have on affected people. It is a very gripping read. Additionally, the author provides a twist in the narrative two-thirds of the way into the book, changing the viewpoint from one generation to another in a very subtle way.

Highly recommend, even if dystopian drama is not your usual genre. It's extremely readable, and is very hard to put down.