Wow. This is a stunning, eye-opening, un-put-downable memoir about a teenage girl and her family struggling to survive the 1990s genocide in Bosnia. Amra is Muslim and when the Serbs invade her country, and her city, atrocities begin. I requested an ARC from the publisher because it features a cat, and the cat, called Maci (“cat” in Bosnian), helps Amra and her family to survive – both emotionally as a much-needed comfort during a horrible time, and literally, as some of the family members are averted from a sniper’s bullet or a bomb by Maci. I felt so much for this wonderful, miraculous cat, and of course for the family as well. The book is sad and shocking but ultimately uplifting, and I was so happy to know that Amra eventually makes her way to the U.S. where she is currently a scholar and teacher. A must-read for cat lovers, for anyone wanting to know what it’s like to live in a war-torn city during a genocide, and for anyone just wanting a very absorbing read. Definitely our favorite so far of the fall. The book releases on September 8th but you can pre-order your copy here.
