jenmat1197's review against another edition
4.0
This is the diary of a girl named Zlata. In the early 1990s when Zlata was 11 years old and enjoying a typical young girl's life, a war was starting. It slowly trickled to where she lived in Bosnia causing World War II like conditions for the country. Quickly electricity became scarce and then non-existent. Water, gas, and food became things to ration carefully. Winter came and Zlata's family had to start to burn furniture just to keep warm.
Zlata had started her diary shortly before the war broke out, and for 2 years she kept almost a daily account of what was happening around her. Through the eyes of a young girl, we learn what war was like for children. And at the age of 13, when she finally escaped to Paris with her family and she was free from Bosnia's war, the relief she felt was expressed at the end of her diary.
This was a quick read, and an interesting perspective of the war. Like Anne Frank's diary (except with much less detail), we get to hear what it was like for a child. I have two 12 year old children myself, and I can imagine them writing the exact same way if they kept a diary. IT is innocent and focuses on what children miss the most and how very little understand they have of grown up problems.
It is a good read. I encourage you to try it for yourself.
Zlata had started her diary shortly before the war broke out, and for 2 years she kept almost a daily account of what was happening around her. Through the eyes of a young girl, we learn what war was like for children. And at the age of 13, when she finally escaped to Paris with her family and she was free from Bosnia's war, the relief she felt was expressed at the end of her diary.
This was a quick read, and an interesting perspective of the war. Like Anne Frank's diary (except with much less detail), we get to hear what it was like for a child. I have two 12 year old children myself, and I can imagine them writing the exact same way if they kept a diary. IT is innocent and focuses on what children miss the most and how very little understand they have of grown up problems.
It is a good read. I encourage you to try it for yourself.
cjsjellybean's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I had read it when I was younger and now as an adult, I work as a nanny and the family next door to me has an au pair from Bosnia and she talks about the war sometimes, so I decided to re-read it. It was fun to show the cover and some of the pictures of Zlata's actual diary to her and have her translate what was said and then find the corresponding entry and see how they were alike/different.
I loved that this book included many pictures. At the end, the story just suddenly stops and it would be interesting to know how Zlata's life was after they got out of Sarajevo and how she is doing now.
I loved that this book included many pictures. At the end, the story just suddenly stops and it would be interesting to know how Zlata's life was after they got out of Sarajevo and how she is doing now.
laurakatarooma's review against another edition
3.0
Luin tän ala-asteella ekan kerran ja halusin lukea uudelleen.
anneebel's review against another edition
4.0
I really wish I’d read it when it was published and I first bought it. I’m so frustrated with myself!
I loved reading it and I cannot begin to imagine what life was like back then, and reading it now, and understanding all of the atrocities of war even more so makes this book more poignant.
I am so close in age to Zlata, I am so glad I never saw what she did, let alone describe it in sometimes such poetic ways.
I loved reading it and I cannot begin to imagine what life was like back then, and reading it now, and understanding all of the atrocities of war even more so makes this book more poignant.
I am so close in age to Zlata, I am so glad I never saw what she did, let alone describe it in sometimes such poetic ways.
shaprincess21's review against another edition
5.0
A book about a girl who is in a war in Sarajevo. She writes in her diary almost everyday telling about her life. ( This is a real Diary )
lizzybd's review against another edition
4.0
My heart broke for Zlata, but the book just stopped. What happened? I will have to research and find out. Poignant, hard, sad. It could happen to any of us.
juniperusxx's review against another edition
4.0
Tämä 11-vuotiaan kuvaus sodasta oli koskettava ja toi sodan kauheuden todella lähelle. Hämmentyneenä muistelen, mitä itse tein elämässäni Bosnian sodan aikoihin, kun en sen voimakkaammin ole siihen reagoinut, vaikka niin lähellä Suomea tapahtuikin. Kirjoittaja on ikäisekseen varsin kypsä, mutta nimenomaan tämä lapsen näkökulma sotaan puhuttelee vahvasti.
colpenbewley's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.5