From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up—Betrothed teens Kevork and Marta have been apart since being removed from their orphanage in Marash, Turkey, during the Armenian Genocide of 1915 when they were marched into the Syrian Desert without food or water. Separated by distance and the necessity of hiding, neither of them knows if the other is still alive. Kevork, rescued by nomads and now disguised as an Arab, is determined to return to the orphanage but faces many obstacles, including the opportunity to help smuggle funds and resources to the Armenians in concentration camps. Marta, meanwhile, had been taken in by a Muslim family in Aintab and forced to be a concubine. Now pregnant, she returns to the orphanage and helps protect its residents, still hoping to be reunited with Kevork. Because the story is told in alternating perspectives, readers know that both teens have survived, which removes some dramatic tension but allows the author to explore the development of the characters. Such is the universality of their feelings that a deep understanding of the historical context is not necessary, but would be helpful. Fortunately, a fairly detailed historical note and map provide context for readers who have likely heard very little about the second-largest genocide in history. This is a powerful, often harrowing novel that will appeal to those who appreciate books about people surviving in spite of grave injustices.—
Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"
Daughter of War is an unsettling but compelling novel that will appeal to mature young adult readers."
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Quill & Quire "This is an exciting story. . . There is a lot of thrilling action in a certainly exotic setting. Readers of Armenian descent will find this especially relevant to their own cultural understanding, but any readers who like historical fiction filled with danger, tragedy, and survival will like this novel."
-- KLIATT
"This is a powerful, often harrowing novel that will appeal to those who appreciate books about people surviving in spite of grave injustices."
-- School Library Journal
"(The story) is upfront about the unspeakable brutality, the betrayals and the casual murders even as it offers the constant surprise of soldiers, diplomats, nurses, missionaries, and children acting as rescuers. Add this to the Holocaust curriculum."
-- Booklist
"Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch's novel, Daughter of War, is hard-hitting and troublesome and, as she would wish, highly educational. . . a powerful and moving read.
Recommended."
-- CM Magazine
"From the first page I was hooked. . . Daughter of War is a good read, as well as a compelling look at an event too little known in the Western World."
-- Canadian Children's Book News
"Daughter of War is a deftly written historical fiction novel, sure to enthrall readers with a story set amid events that truly happened. A top pick for community library literary collections."
-- Midwest Book Review
"A powerful sequel to her 2003 novel, Nobody's Child."
-- Winnipeg Free Press
"Marta's and Kevork's compelling stories drive the reader through the novel. They are strong, evolving protagonists and you care about them. There are times, however, when their story is swallowed by the history lessons that Skrypuch wants to put in the spotlight. It's a tribute to her writing that even in those lessons you do not want to put the book down. The stories of Marta and Kevork overcome the history - and in the scheme of things, perhaps that's exactly as it should be."
-- The Waterloo Record
"A powerful novel based on first-hand accounts of actual historical events and will appeal to teens and adults. It leaves readers with a powerful question: "But was anywhere safe when you were Armenian?"
-- Curled Up With a Good (Kid's) Book
