auri_underthing's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: War, Violence, Gun violence, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Addiction, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, Deportation, and Rape
charnyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Murder, Rape, War, Violence, Blood, and Classism
leoniefnk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Child death, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Self harm, War, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Confinement, Death, Rape, Pedophilia, and Child abuse
bethanstanleyy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual content, War, Islamophobia, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, and Rape
chloebaboey's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Colonisation, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Trafficking
ozshark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book gives just a small glimpse into what it might be like to live through that situation. To have war come to your home town. To have your way of life completely wiped out. To have friends and family flee, or worse killed. To see loved ones who survive still be emotionally destroyed. To flee to refuge, but leave too much of your heart and soul behind. The main character, Nuri, writes:
"We created great things together, just as you said we would. But this war snatched it away from us, everything we dreamed about and worked for. It's left us without our home, without our work and without our sons. I am not sure how I can live like this."
We journey with Nuri and his wife Afra as they leave Aleppo and try to join Nuri's cousin in England. They are both suffering from the incredible trauma they are fleeing.
The story jumps through several different time periods in Nuri and Afra's journey, often without warning. (view spoiler)
Lefteri does a great job of creating atmosphere. You can really feel the sunshine and happiness when she describes the bee fields in Aleppo before the war, feel the tension and uneasiness in the refugee camps and the malice of the "men in the woods" well before we see details of what occurs there.
The author's acknowledgements at the end show that, while this may not be a true story, each element is based on research and interviews with real refugees and I am sure it is an average depiction of their experience. Overall, I am glad, although saddened, to have read this book.
Graphic: War, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Rape