By April C., Crofton High School
The Cat I Never Named tells the true story of Amra Sabic-El-Rayess as she and her Muslim family struggle to survive in Bihac, Bosnia as war rages around them. With their city under siege by the Serbians, who are determined to wipe them out, and people dying around them every day, life becomes harder than they ever thought. But in spite of everything, Amra and her family find hope in a small calico cat who followed refugees into their town and quickly becomes a symbol of life and hope for all in the war-torn town.
Despite this being a non-fiction story, this book reads like a fiction novel, and keeps you engaged with a shocking realism in the writing style. It doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of war, even describing in great detail how a chicken they have to kill for food continues to walk around headless. Amra feels as real as any teenager, and from falling in love to going to school, I think everyone can connect to her personality in some form. I can’t find anything wrong with this book. It’s heart-wrenching in its realism, and captivating in its message of hope, survival and family.
I recommend this book if you’re looking to try a non-fiction book that is invigorating and heart-touching in every sense of the word. I would recommend that readers be 15+ because it does deal with topics such as war, rape, depression, and death on a very in-depth level.
Click here to check out The Cat I Never Named by Amra Sabi-El-Rayess