We have all been following the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the havoc it caused, with so many people losing their lives or being torn apart by the war. I was intrigued when one of the authors approached me and asked if I would like to read this collection. I wholeheartedly agreed, as I believe we have the power to fight for peace through different means, including through writing. I invite you to discover more about this anthology and I encourage you to grab your own copy, as all the proceeds from the book are donated to Voices of Children Foundation in Ukraine.
My opinion:
This collection includes stories belonging to different genres, but they all come back to the same issue, war and its deadly consequences. The Russia-Ukraine conflict is something we are all familiar with, but perhaps it takes honest writing to be reminded of what war looks like. Too often we see war depicted in movies, in a completely different manner than it actually unfolds. Have we thought about the kids whose future has disappeared? And what about the adolescents joining the army? The writers who have contributed to this anthology draw attention especially to these aspects.
Children are the main focus of these stories, with the authors putting their creative talent to good use and showing what becomes of those who lose their childhood to armed conflict. I applaud the authors for coming together to highlight the experiences of children trapped in war. Even though these are not easy to read, I think this is the least we can do. I feel like you cannot read these stories without being moved to tears, without acknowledging their emotional impact. We are practically forced to step out of the comfort zone and see the war as it is. This sobering wakeup call will take us to a place where we can no longer deny our need to be involved, to help in any way we can.
Written with eloquence, these stories prove that no one really wins when wars take place. Innocent people are collateral damage and lives are destroyed in an instant. Are we really that blind to history and previous events? These stories send a clear message, one with which I agree 100%... no child should ever have to witness the horrors of war. As the mother of a five-year-old, I pray we will never find ourselves in this situation. I read these stories because they spoke to my need to be honest, with life being comfortable for us, while others are thanking God for each minute of quiet.
Verdict:
This anthology of stories might be a difficult read, but one that can serve as a reminder of what truly matters. Even though they belong to different genres, they all explain how children are scarred for life and how war never leads to good things. The authors go at great lengths to highlight the effects of war and the trauma future generations will carry. It is true that children pay the ultimate the price and we must do anything we can to help them now. I applaud the initiative!
Authors who have contributed to this anthology:
Miranda J. Chivers, Susan Stradiotto, Lauren Lee Merewether, Astrid V.J., Joan T. Seko, C Phillip, I Velez, Darrah Steffen, J.C. Seal, Daan Katz, Pamela Floyd, C Borden, Nandita Pant Joshi
Book Mockup: https://bookinmotion.com
Comments