About the book
Two lives. Two worlds apart. One deeply compelling story set in both Bosnia and the United States, spanning decades and generations, about the brutality of war and the trauma of everyday life after war, about hope and the ties that bind us together.
Zara and her mother, Nadja, have a strained relationship. Nadja just doesn't understand Zara's creative passion for, and self-expression through, photography. And Zara doesn't know how to reach beyond their differences and connect to a closed-off mother who refuses to speak about her past in Bosnia. But when a bomb explodes as they're shopping in their local farmers' market in Rhode Island, Zara is left with PTSD--and her mother is left in a coma. Without the opportunity to get to know her mother, Zara is left with questions--not just about her mother, but about faith, religion, history, and her own path forward.
As Zara tries to sort through her confusion, she meets Joseph, whose grandmother is also in the hospital, and whose exploration of religion and philosophy offer comfort and insight into Zara's own line of thinking.
Told in chapters that alternate between Zara's present-day Providence, RI, and Nadja's own childhood in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian War of the 1990s, We Are All That's Left shows the ways in which, no matter the time and place, struggle and tragedy can give way to connection, healing and love.
Praise for We Are All That's Left:
* \"A multilayered view of tragedy and its repercussions.\" --Publishers Weekly, *STARRED REVIEW*
* \"This complex, compelling story takes readers on a deep dive below the surface, exposing both the fragility of life and the redemptive bonds of love.\" --Booklist, *STARRED REVIEW*
\"This important and timely novel is a painful, lovely exploration of mending a mother-daughter relationship.\" --Kirkus Reviews
Editions of We Are All That's Left
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780399175541
- EBook
- ISBN 9780698198630
Read an Excerpt
Two lives. Two worlds apart. One deeply compelling story set in both Bosnia and the United States, spanning decades and generations, about the brutality of war and the trauma of everyday life after war, about hope and the ties that bind us together.
Zara and her mother, Nadja, have a strained relationship. Nadja just doesn't understand Zara's creative passion for, and self-expression through, photography. And Zara doesn't know how to reach beyond their differences and connect to a closed-off mother who refuses to speak about her past in Bosnia. But when a bomb explodes as they're shopping in their local farmers' market in Rhode Island, Zara is left with PTSD--and her mother is left in a coma. Without the opportunity to get to know her mother, Zara is left with questions--not just about her mother, but about faith, religion, history, and her own path forward.
As Zara tries to sort through her confusion, she meets Joseph, whose grandmother is also in the hospital, and whose exploration of religion and philosophy offer comfort and insight into Zara's own line of thinking.
Told in chapters that alternate between Zara's present-day Providence, RI, and Nadja's own childhood in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian War of the 1990s, We Are All That's Left shows the ways in which, no matter the time and place, struggle and tragedy can give way to connection, healing and love.
Praise for We Are All That's Left:
* \"A multilayered view of tragedy and its repercussions.\" --Publishers Weekly, *STARRED REVIEW*
* \"This complex, compelling story takes readers on a deep dive below the surface, exposing both the fragility of life and the redemptive bonds of love.\" --Booklist, *STARRED REVIEW*
\"This important and timely novel is a painful, lovely exploration of mending a mother-daughter relationship.\" --Kirkus Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
What is We Are All That's Left about?
Two lives. Two worlds apart. One deeply compelling story set in both Bosnia and the United States, spanning decades and generations, about the brutality of war and the trauma of everyday life after war, about hope and the ties that bind us together.
Zara and her mother, Nadja, have a strained relationship. Nadja just doesn't understand Zara's creative passion for, and self-expression through, photography. And Zara doesn't know how to reach beyond their differences and connect to a closed-off mother who refuses to speak about her past in Bosnia. But when a bomb explodes as they're shopping in their local farmers' market in Rhode Island, Zara is left with PTSD--and her mother is left in a coma. Without the opportunity to get to know her mother, Zara is left with questions--not just about her mother, but about faith, religion, history, and her own path forward.
As Zara tries to sort through her confusion, she meets Joseph, whose grandmother is also in the hospital, and whose exploration of religion and philosophy offer comfort and insight into Zara's own line of thinking.
Told in chapters that alternate between Zara's present-day Providence, RI, and Nadja's own childhood in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian War of the 1990s, We Are All That's Left shows the ways in which, no matter the time and place, struggle and tragedy can give way to connection, healing and love.
Praise for We Are All That's Left:
* \"A multilayered view of tragedy and its repercussions.\" --Publishers Weekly, *STARRED REVIEW*
* \"This complex, compelling story takes readers on a deep dive below the surface, exposing both the fragility of life and the redemptive bonds of love.\" --Booklist, *STARRED REVIEW*
\"This important and timely novel is a painful, lovely exploration of mending a mother-daughter relationship.\" --Kirkus Reviews
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in We Are All That's Left?
Children’s, Teenage and Educational > Children’s / Teenage fiction and true stories > Children’s / Teenage fiction: Family and home stories
Where can I read a sample of We Are All That's Left?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780399175541
Who is/are the Author/s of the book We Are All That's Left?
Carrie Arcos
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
We Are All That's Left is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780399175541) and ebook(ISBN 9780698198630)
Where can I buy We Are All That's Left online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy We Are All That's Left from below
Where can I buy We Are All That's Left?