Reviews

Sisters of the War: Two Remarkable True Stories of Survival and Hope in Syria by Rania Abouzeid

aminarotari's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

An insightful retelling of the Syrian civil war through two distinct perspectives of people on different political sides of the conflict yet sharing similar pains and going through all the same hurdles. 

librarylandlisa's review

4.0

This was a very speedy and informative read. I listened to this audiobook on Hoopla. I would recommend this for middle-grade and older who appreciate survival stories and war books. I found myself searching for a lot of information after reading about the Syrian war. I also learned about the difference between Islam and Islamists. I also learned about Alawite Muslims which I had no knowledge of before reading.

lillimoore's review

4.0

Heartbreaking and eye-opening. Full review to come! Boy these reviews are backing up since I was asked to stop writing book reviews on the clock

kay_smeal1997's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

3.5

sarahcharlie's review

emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.0

s_mivsek's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced

3.5

passionatereader78's review

emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Mass/school shootings

moonsapphire's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense fast-paced

3.75

linda_elaine's review against another edition

inspiring sad medium-paced

4.5

thatothernigeriangirl's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative tense medium-paced

4.0

This was such a brilliant book. The author has detailed the lives of four girls from two different family — seemingly on the two sides of the Syrian war. Through these four girls (and their family members), I got context on the war; the Syria before and after; the political and selfish interests that muddled the initial call for Syrian liberation —triggered by the Arab spring of 2011. 

The highlight for me was finding out that the author was present in many of the events detailed in this book (like she was physically present!). It gave more authenticity and empathy to this work that she’s done. Thanks to her, I’m eager to read more Syrian narratives, either fictional or nonfictional forms. 

I really wish Ruha, Alaa, Jawa and Hanin so much good wherever they are.