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A review by melbsreads
Let's Go Swimming on Doomsday by Natalie C. Anderson
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Trigger warnings: terrorism, explosions, death, indoctrination, violence, torture, gun violence, stabbing, drowning, blood, kidnapping, PTSD, rape resulting in pregnancy (in the past).
Oof. This book was utterly compelling but also just A Lot. Essentially, Abdi's brother is kidnapped by a terrorist group in Somalia when Abdi is 13. Three years later, Abdi is essentially forced into joining the same group by the CIA who want to have someone on the inside in an attempt to take down the group's leader. If he refuses, they'll kill his family. If he accepts, his family will be given safe passage to the global north.
So, uh, yeah. It's a lot.
I really liked the way the story jumps between Abdi in Somalia, involved in this terrorist group, and Abdi in Kenya, fighting for survival and trying to put his life back together while terrified that he'll be found. It was an extremely effective way of telling the story, and it's very clear that Anderson knows what she's talking about, after her years of working for NGOs.
I flew through the last third of this because I *had* to know what was happening, and the ending made me teary. All in all, I'm really glad I read this.
Oof. This book was utterly compelling but also just A Lot. Essentially, Abdi's brother is kidnapped by a terrorist group in Somalia when Abdi is 13. Three years later, Abdi is essentially forced into joining the same group by the CIA who want to have someone on the inside in an attempt to take down the group's leader. If he refuses, they'll kill his family. If he accepts, his family will be given safe passage to the global north.
So, uh, yeah. It's a lot.
I really liked the way the story jumps between Abdi in Somalia, involved in this terrorist group, and Abdi in Kenya, fighting for survival and trying to put his life back together while terrified that he'll be found. It was an extremely effective way of telling the story, and it's very clear that Anderson knows what she's talking about, after her years of working for NGOs.
I flew through the last third of this because I *had* to know what was happening, and the ending made me teary. All in all, I'm really glad I read this.