Three Summers
| Modern Age |
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 Three Summers
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| Content Warning |
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| death of a child, Islamophobia, Genocide |
American History > Modern Age > Bosnian War
An epic middle-grade memoir about sisterhood and coming-of-age in the three years leading up to the Bosnian Genocide.
Three Summers is the story of five young cousins who grow closer than sisters as ethnic tensions escalate over three summers in 1980s Bosnia. They navigate the joys and pitfalls of adolescence on their family’s little island in the middle of the Una River. When finally confronted with the harsh truths of the adult world around them, their bond gives them the resilience to discover and hold fast to their true selves.
Written with incredible warmth and tenderness, Amra Sabic-El-Rayess takes readers on a journey that will break their hearts and put them back together again.
Emily's Review
I adore middle-grade memoirs - I love reading stories about growing up in different times and places. This is a story about resilience, surviving trauma, and sisterhood.
Set over the course of three epic summers, Amra tells us about her cousin and best friend, Zana, and how she was able to help her heal after the grief of losing her brother. It's about teen crushes and coming of age in the 1980s, but what I loved most about this book is Amra's window, giving us a glimpse of what life was like at this time. We get to see the last vestiges of Yugoslavia, Bosnian culture, and the stirrings of the war to come through the innocent eyes of a young girl who is just trying to figure out who she is and navigate the transition from young girl to teenager.
While I loved the book, I struggled with the middle-grade designation. I feel like most 8 - 12-year-olds will not get the nuance or the depth of the story. There are some really dark moments, from losing her brother, the racism Serbs had toward Bosniaks, and grappling with poverty, but also, there is a lot about boys and crushes and makeup that most younger middle-grade readers won't relate to yet. This is one of those books that straddles the line between middle grade and YA. I think the target audience will be 12 - 14 year olds.
Other Similar Books
Other suggestions on the subject of Bosnian War.
- Three Summers (by: Sabic-El-Rayess, Amra, UMG, YA)
- The Cellist of Sarajevo (by: Galloway, Steven, A)