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A review by annebennett1957
The Cat I Never Named: A True Story of Love, War, and Survival by Laura L. Sullivan, Amra Sabic-El-Rayess
5.0
Of all the YA and MG nonfiction books I have consumed recently this one took me the longest to get into and to finish but I have a feeling it will also have the biggest impact.
Amra was 16 when the war in Bosnia broke out. One day her Serb neighbors all disappeared from her town and the bombing started. One day she was a normal high school kid worried about grades and thinking about her friends and if she would ever fall in love. The next she and her family are fighting for their survival. If not for the sweet little cat who adopted her family Amra is not sure that any of them would have survived.
So what was so impactful about Amra's story? First I couldn't help feeling guilty that I as an American wasn't paying attention enough to even be aware that the Serbs intended to kill all Bosnians just because they were Muslim. Prior to now when I think about genocides I never thought of this war.
Second, Amra Sabic-El-Rayess likens what happened in her country to what she see happening in the USA today with the hatred and divisions being allowed to grow and spill over. Where one race of people are not given the same respect in the justice system or in society as everyone else. She uses this book as a warning to us.
I am not sure if teens will flock to read this book but I hope it does end up in some kids hands and can make a positive difference in their lives.
https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2021/02/nonfiction-review-cat-i-never-named.html
Amra was 16 when the war in Bosnia broke out. One day her Serb neighbors all disappeared from her town and the bombing started. One day she was a normal high school kid worried about grades and thinking about her friends and if she would ever fall in love. The next she and her family are fighting for their survival. If not for the sweet little cat who adopted her family Amra is not sure that any of them would have survived.
So what was so impactful about Amra's story? First I couldn't help feeling guilty that I as an American wasn't paying attention enough to even be aware that the Serbs intended to kill all Bosnians just because they were Muslim. Prior to now when I think about genocides I never thought of this war.
Second, Amra Sabic-El-Rayess likens what happened in her country to what she see happening in the USA today with the hatred and divisions being allowed to grow and spill over. Where one race of people are not given the same respect in the justice system or in society as everyone else. She uses this book as a warning to us.
I am not sure if teens will flock to read this book but I hope it does end up in some kids hands and can make a positive difference in their lives.
https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2021/02/nonfiction-review-cat-i-never-named.html