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sumayyaha's review against another edition
5.0
Rating - 4.8 Stars // Recommended - 11+
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I loved this story, a truely important tale.
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I loved this story, a truely important tale.
ddellis08's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, War, and Death of parent
thebibutterfly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A heart-wrenching, poetic imagining of the plight of three Armenian children escaping the Armenian Genocide. My would ached by the end. Beautiful prose, devastating imagery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Animal death, Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Gun violence
carolineinthelibrary's review against another edition
5.0
This was a beautiful, heartbreaking story of struggle, survival and hope. I’ve never read another book on the Armenian genocide, so I’m glad this exists as it details the tragedy in a very real way.
jenndanblake's review against another edition
4.0
Good, sad story about the Armenian genocide. Told in prose, which was different, but effective. Quick read.
kamckim's review against another edition
4.0
Shahen Donabedian wants more than anything to escape his sleepy little Anatolian village to go to New York City, just like his uncle before him. His twin sister, Sosi, does not feel the same, having just discovered the earliest stirrings of affection for Vahan Arkalian, the clock-maker's son. Together, Shahen and Sosi, are expected to help their parents with the family mill-work, grape harvests and care of their five-year-old sister, Miriam. When the unthinkable happens, and the children are forced to flee while their parents are brutally murdered, nothing matters but survival.
A very sensitive book detailing the horrors of the Armenian genocide for a brother and two sisters in 1914, as they escape to Aleppo with the help of an eagle. Walrath doesn't spare us the details-senseless murder, rape, rivers running with blood, death by starvation-but her choice of free verse somehow gives the reader a chance to come up for air once in a while. In addition, she pays attention to the little details of her Armenian heritage-the music, the food, the daily duties of mothers and daughters. She also explores daily interactions among Turkish Muslims, Kurds and Armenians in rural villages before nationalism crept across the Ottoman empire. Great understanding and depth of insight into the human condition is portrayed in this deceptively simple book.
A very sensitive book detailing the horrors of the Armenian genocide for a brother and two sisters in 1914, as they escape to Aleppo with the help of an eagle. Walrath doesn't spare us the details-senseless murder, rape, rivers running with blood, death by starvation-but her choice of free verse somehow gives the reader a chance to come up for air once in a while. In addition, she pays attention to the little details of her Armenian heritage-the music, the food, the daily duties of mothers and daughters. She also explores daily interactions among Turkish Muslims, Kurds and Armenians in rural villages before nationalism crept across the Ottoman empire. Great understanding and depth of insight into the human condition is portrayed in this deceptively simple book.
readwithpassion's review against another edition
4.0
This is a beautiful book in verse that is set in the Ottoman Empire during the 1910s. It blends genres of magical realism and historical fiction. The point of view alternates with each poem, so I came to understand the differing perspectives of the family depicted in the text. The horrific genocide against Armenians is not common in literature, and this text sheds light on a time period that should be depicted more often. The strength of the children in this book will be inspirational to readers.
kerryfriesen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
fontrue's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
jenmat1197's review against another edition
4.0
This book takes place in 1914 when the Ottoman Empire is collapsing. A family - a mom, dad, and several children are debating whether to flee to America with family or to stay. The father wants to stay - he has Turkish and Kurd friends who he feels will protect his family.
In the end, two of his children are arrested, and the father begins to realize they are too late with their decision to leave. His twin children - a boy and a girl (Sosi and Shahen) and a younger daughter (Mariam) are given a few meager belongings and told to flee. The mother and father distract the soldiers long enough for those three to get away before the parents are brutely murdered.
The attack comes from the Turkish government wanting to eliminate all Armenians. And now, Sosi, Shahen, and Mariam are on their own. They cross only by night through the mountains, trying to get to Aleppo, and then on to America. Starving, and with so little posessions, things look dire for the young children. They are in a race against time to stay away from the soldiers (Shahen, a boy, is dressed as a girl so he is not recruited into the army) and out of the line of fire. They pass large amounts of dismembered bodies as they trek, hoping against everything that they make it out of the country.
This is a beautifully told story. You are entertwined with the three main characters as they risk everything to escape. It is told from the point of view of several of the characters in the book, so you get different takes on the terrible situation. From the parents down to 5 year old Miriam, whose whole world was turned upside down by something she doesn't understand. She isn't even told that her parents are dead until they are safe because the twins felt it would be too much for her as they were desparately running for their lives.
All told, there is an estimate between 600,000-1.5 million Armenians that lost their lives in the genocide. I encourage you to read this book to get just a small look at what it was like for Armenians in the early 1900s. And then go on to read more articles about the genocide
In the end, two of his children are arrested, and the father begins to realize they are too late with their decision to leave. His twin children - a boy and a girl (Sosi and Shahen) and a younger daughter (Mariam) are given a few meager belongings and told to flee. The mother and father distract the soldiers long enough for those three to get away before the parents are brutely murdered.
The attack comes from the Turkish government wanting to eliminate all Armenians. And now, Sosi, Shahen, and Mariam are on their own. They cross only by night through the mountains, trying to get to Aleppo, and then on to America. Starving, and with so little posessions, things look dire for the young children. They are in a race against time to stay away from the soldiers (Shahen, a boy, is dressed as a girl so he is not recruited into the army) and out of the line of fire. They pass large amounts of dismembered bodies as they trek, hoping against everything that they make it out of the country.
This is a beautifully told story. You are entertwined with the three main characters as they risk everything to escape. It is told from the point of view of several of the characters in the book, so you get different takes on the terrible situation. From the parents down to 5 year old Miriam, whose whole world was turned upside down by something she doesn't understand. She isn't even told that her parents are dead until they are safe because the twins felt it would be too much for her as they were desparately running for their lives.
All told, there is an estimate between 600,000-1.5 million Armenians that lost their lives in the genocide. I encourage you to read this book to get just a small look at what it was like for Armenians in the early 1900s. And then go on to read more articles about the genocide