A perfectly timed departure from the predictable template.

Girl at War shouldn't pass you by. The horrors of the 1990's Balkan Crisis, set against the breathtaking beauty of the land, give bittersweet memories of her past that is far removed from Ana's new life in America, where comfort is taken for granted and war is something folks watch on TV.

The will to survive, despite having every reason to surrender to the fate of her mother and father, is Ana's story. Love, fear, hesitation and uneasy rediscovery are mixed into a nostalgic reunion that takes place when Ana returns to see the remains of her childhood. Perhaps the only thing that has stayed the same is the connection she shares with Luka, the boy she left behind. As young adults, Luka and Ana set off together on a journey to find the past that had previously been set aside in Ana's mind.

Sara Nović masterfully unwinds this story of survival. Don't pass over this book! It is haunting and beautiful in every sense of the word.

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6 people found this helpful

On Growing up and Finding Home

This book is difficult to review, even as I read it quickly and swallowed it whole. I grew up in Canada, and am about the same age as the fictional Ana. While I never could understand her need to hide her heritage from her American classmates, teachers, and anyone else, it did make sense in the way of a teenager and preteen.
Julia Whelan is a narrator I've heard of but not explored much. She handles this book nicely, though her male characters have frustratingly low tones that don't suit her well. But her dialogue was polished and emotive, and does carry Ana's character nicely.

This book tackles very difficult subjects of homecoming, of war, of innocence lost at an age where you desperately cling to whatever innocence you have left. It's a difficult read, as war books should be, but it is by no means violent for its own sake. It is hopeful and shattering and frustrating and resilient... maybe it was meant to be this way.

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4 people found this helpful

Incredible, moving, inspirational ❤️

Very nicely delivered story and beautifully performed. Highly recommend it. It is the safest way to learn what it is to be a child in a war.

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2 people found this helpful

Beautifully written

This novel tackles the very difficult subject of a child caught up in war and displaced from her native country. Unfortunately, more topical than ever. Sara Novic writes beautifully, authentically, and on a personal and urgent level--depicting not only the experience of war on the ground in a stunning and accessible way, but love of family, culture, friends, the joys of childhood and confusions of young adulthood--that drew me in so fully I listened to the entire book in one day. Rare for me. The book on Audible is performed with several voices delineating each character and was easy to follow without the text. Read this book. It matters.

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Emotionally Moving

I found Novic's novel to be emotionally moving, and reasonably well paced. The writing itself was decent, but room for improvement. Overall, I thought the book was good.

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1 person found this helpful

Well thought through realistic and moving story

We are humans with the greatest and weakest in us. Biology plays a role, environment makes the difference. The circumstances outside of our control are hard to acknowledge as we want to believe that our will plays a more important role, than it actually does..

I found characters well developed, very realistic, events to be very probable, the cultures presented from multiple points of view, and learned quite a bit about myself and others. The torturous events were not extravagantly emphasized, but then they did not loose their power of hurt and understanding. The kindness of people was not elevated to sainthood, but also was not minimized. This book is a reminder that not everything depends on us, but then something does depend. It helped me to understand the impact of certain experiences.

I was impressed with author writing. The books reads easily, but the vocabulary is quite rich.

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1 person found this helpful

Compelling story, beautifully crafted

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend this audiobook. The reader gave voice to each character. The scenes were vividly presented by the author. I was engaged in the book 'til the end.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Girl at War?

Some of the most memorable moments were in Part 3 when Ana went to the village near where she'd last been with her parents.

Who was the most memorable character of Girl at War and why?

Ana was determined, smart, and thoughtful. She continued to be a loving person throughout the horrors of the war.

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I’m not crying, you’re crying

Just kidding, that’s me crying. It’s a tough subject and beautifully written. I look forward to more from Sara Novic (two stellar books so far). And Julia Whelan’s narration is flawless as always.

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Well written and engaging story

Sara Novic writes with such descriptiveness that it took me away to another place and time. This is what I love about reading! The characters were well developed. (I even had my favorites.)The story was touching and it left me wanting to read a sequel! I can imagine this book as a movie or tv series that would do well. The reading was great, as her usual. This reader is one of my favorites.

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CROATIAN ATROCITY

Sara Novic writes of war in Croatia that is tentatively settled by the dismantling of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. In a personal 22-day visit to five of the six countries, a Croatian guide tells our small group of travelers that he does not offer a trip to Serbia. He explains his father was killed by Serbian soldiers in the Croatian war.

A little history gives perspective to our guide’s and Novic’s story. After WWII, Yugoslavia is set up as a federation of six republics to be ruled by one leader, Josip Broz Tito. Though Tito is considered a dictator, under his rule the six ethnic republics experience a period of strong economic growth and relative political stability. In having dinner with a family in Bosnia/Herzegovina, a grandmother says she misses Tito’s government. She felt life was better with Tito as leader of the six territories.

Novic’s story is of a 10-year-old girl who loses her mother and father when stopped at a Serbian check point in the early 1990s. The Serbian army gathers a group of Croatians, lines them up in a circle around a pit, and shoots them one by one. This is not our guide’s story, but his story reinforces Novic’s picture of Serbia’s and Croatia’s conflict. Our guide explains how the United Nations helped Croatia survive the 1991-1995 war. Interestingly, the guide denigrated America’s role in the war. In his opinion, America stood on the sidelines when Serbs were perpetrating mass killings.

The troubling issue with all international conflicts is where the line is to be drawn between being American “helpful Hannah’s” and exemplars of good and responsible behavior.

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