The Bosnia List: A Memoir of War, Exile, and Return
By Kenan Trebincevic, Susan Shapiro
336 pages;
Penguin
When the Bosnian civil war
approaches the small town of Brćko, the life of 11-year-old Kenan changes overnight. His
teacher holds him at gunpoint in the middle of the street, his Karate coach
shuns him and his next-door neighbor loots his family's belongings from their
home. All the other Muslims have either fled, been sent to concentration camps
or been killed. His family ("the last Muslim family in town") eventually are
forced to run for their lives. Now, 20 years later, Kenan's an American citizen
living in Queens, New York, and honoring his aging father's wish to revisit
their homeland—but only because he seeks revenge against the people
that wronged his family. With the assistance of writer Susan Shapiro, Kenan
tells his harrowing story in two compelling narratives: One that captures his
war-torn childhood, the other that traces his surprising journey home. Yes, Kenan
searches to confront old enemies, but what he finds instead are "flickers
of goodness that must be remembered." That the most significant parts of
his life in Bosnia, he rediscovers—and re-remembers—were
not filled with hate, but rather filled with "exactly enough" love—the
people that helped him and his family survive. A poignant, powerful look at
forgiveness.
— Pamela Masin
