What a timely novel. Having heard so much for so long about the plight of Syrian refugees, I was duly impressed at how Christy Lefteri brought these horrors to life for her readers. Nuri's heart and determination propelled this story along as he resolutely moved toward his goal of meeting up with his cousin, Mustafa, as he escaped the tragic circumstances of Aleppo. Christy Lefteri succeeds at making her characters' fear palpable, their nightmare (both literal and figurative) vivid. The information about beekeeping was also interesting and I appreciated the the metaphorical aspect of bees.
The difficulty this novel poses is the poor transition between Nuri's reality and PTSD lapses. Though it is likely that the author intended this disorienting method in order to more effectively communicate what someone in this situation may actually experience, it is difficult for readers to determine his actual ordeal vs. his delusions. Because this comprises a significant portion of the novel, it made it a bit of a cumbersome read.
All in all, it was an informative, heart-breaking, and haunting novel that kept my attention throughout.
Read 1/13/20
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