Lezersrecensie
A beautiful, profound story.
A beautiful, profound story.
We follow the life of Gaby, a 10/11-year-old boy living in Bujumbura, Burundi, with his French father, Rwandan mother, and sister. His days are filled with school, friends, and the simple joys of childhood, until everything starts to change after his 11th birthday, as the unrest in Rwanda and Burundi starts to unfold.
Reading the story through Gaby’s perspective was incredibly powerful. You witness his thoughts evolve, from innocent, childlike wonder to a more adult awareness of what actually is happening around him. This transition is written with such grace and subtlety that I found myself completely drawn in his thoughts and world. It’s an easy read in terms of language, but emotionally, it’s deeply moving.
The book is heartbreaking and tragic, yet so cleverly written. It captures the horrors of war and genocide in a subtle, poetic way, without being to overwhelming. At the same time, it shows the beauty of childhood memories, joyful and great moments before everything changes. Seeing all of this through the eyes of such a thoughtful, sensitive boy made it very touching.
This is easily one of the most captivating and memorable novels I’ve read in 2025. It left a deep impression on me, and I know it’s a story I’ll carry with me for a long time.
I read it on Kindle but was so moved by it that I immediately bought a hardback copy.
A must-read. I truly can’t recommend it enough.
We follow the life of Gaby, a 10/11-year-old boy living in Bujumbura, Burundi, with his French father, Rwandan mother, and sister. His days are filled with school, friends, and the simple joys of childhood, until everything starts to change after his 11th birthday, as the unrest in Rwanda and Burundi starts to unfold.
Reading the story through Gaby’s perspective was incredibly powerful. You witness his thoughts evolve, from innocent, childlike wonder to a more adult awareness of what actually is happening around him. This transition is written with such grace and subtlety that I found myself completely drawn in his thoughts and world. It’s an easy read in terms of language, but emotionally, it’s deeply moving.
The book is heartbreaking and tragic, yet so cleverly written. It captures the horrors of war and genocide in a subtle, poetic way, without being to overwhelming. At the same time, it shows the beauty of childhood memories, joyful and great moments before everything changes. Seeing all of this through the eyes of such a thoughtful, sensitive boy made it very touching.
This is easily one of the most captivating and memorable novels I’ve read in 2025. It left a deep impression on me, and I know it’s a story I’ll carry with me for a long time.
I read it on Kindle but was so moved by it that I immediately bought a hardback copy.
A must-read. I truly can’t recommend it enough.
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