
Reach for this book when your child is struggling with a major life transition, feeling like an outsider in a new environment, or asking questions about global justice and why people leave their homes. It is an essential choice for helping children build empathy for the refugee experience and understanding the quiet bravery required to start over. The story follows eleven year old Kenan as he navigates the terrifying outbreak of the Bosnian War and his family's eventual flight to the United States. While the backdrop is a historical conflict, the heart of the book is Kenan's internal journey: his love for soccer, his bond with his brother, and his resilience in a strange new land where he doesn't speak the language. It is a hopeful, grounded memoir that normalizes the complex feelings of grief and excitement that come with relocation.
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Sign in to write a reviewLoss of home, belongings, and the temporary separation of family members.
The central conflict involves ethnic cleansing and religious persecution of Muslims.
Descriptions of sirens, hiding, and the atmosphere of a city under siege.
The book deals directly with war, ethnic cleansing, and displacement. The approach is realistic but age-appropriate for the upper-elementary middle-grade transition. It is secular in tone but deeply rooted in the family's Muslim identity as the reason for their persecution. The resolution is hopeful and grounded in real-life success.
A 10 to 12 year old who is socially conscious or perhaps feeling the sting of being 'the new kid.' It is perfect for a child who enjoys sports memoirs but is ready for more complex socio-political themes.
Parents should be aware of scenes describing the fear of soldiers and the loss of the family home. It is best read alongside a parent to help contextualize the historical Bosnian conflict. A child expressing that they feel like they don't belong, or a child asking 'why are there wars?' after seeing the news.
Younger readers (8-9) will focus on the family's safety and Kenan's love for soccer. Older readers (11-12) will better grasp the injustice of ethnic discrimination and the nuances of cultural assimilation.
Unlike many refugee stories that end at the border, this memoir devotes significant space to the 'after' (the American experience), making the trauma of war feel relevant to the child's own world.
The story begins in 1992 Bosnia, where Kenan's normal life of soccer and school is shattered by the Serbian invasion. As a Muslim family, they face immediate danger and must navigate a series of harrowing escapes before securing passage to the United States. The second half of the book focuses on the immigrant experience in Connecticut: the struggle to learn English, the feeling of being invisible at school, and the slow process of rebuilding a sense of safety and identity.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.