ANESA, NO SKOLA TODAY

Kajtazovic draws from her experience as a refugee and survivor of the Bosnian War in this dramatic illustrated children’s book.

The story opens on a little girl named Anesa, who receives a puppy called Bobi as a gift for her 7th birthday. Overjoyed, she and Bobi become fast friends. Anesa tells Bobi about her plans to make friends at school, how she can write her name, and about her love of recess. As Anesa enters second grade, war disrupts her life when her father and older cousins leave to fight. Soon, Anesa must stay home for safety. The family loses power and must subsist on leftovers and canned foods; Anesa misses her mother’s cooking. Gunfire, explosions, and tanks become commonplace. Anesa’s mother instructs her to pack a bag of clothes. A few days later, Anesa reluctantly leaves Bobi behind with her grandparents and the family frantically flees their home. “There was no time to stop and cry. I had to stay strong and keep going,” Anesa narrates. Anesa is briefly separated from her mother and younger sister, but they find one another and soon reunite with Anesa’s father. The family boards a truck that takes them to a United Nations refugee camp. Preparing to sleep on a hard floor far from the comforts of home, Anesa hugs her teddy bear and hopes she will one day see Bobi again. Kajtazovic’s storytelling is straightforward and gripping, with a pace and intensity that reflect the urgency of fleeing war. The author describes events simply without sacrificing emotional impact in lines like, “In the street, everyone was running in the same direction. Some were still wearing pajamas. Most people were shouting or crying. I felt like I was in a scary movie.” Anesa’s sincere bond with Bobi will be relatable to pet lovers. Somova’s detailed facial illustrations show how war changes Anesa’s once carefree demeanor to one that is anxious and fearful. Unfortunately, the story ends abruptly without a resolution regarding Anesa’s or Bobi’s fates.

A powerful and realistic depiction of the refugee experience that lacks closure.