Three Summers: A Memoir of Sisterhood, Summer Crushes, and Growing Up on the Eve of War

Ages 8 to 12

An epic middle-grade memoir about sisterhood and prejudice in the three years leading up to the Bosnian genocide—for fans of true stories bursting with heart.

Three Summers is the story of five young cousins who grow closer than sisters as ethnic tensions escalate over three summers in 1980s Bosnia. They navigate the joys and pitfalls of adolescence on their family’s little island in the middle of the Una River. When finally confronted with the harsh truths of the adult world around them, their bond gives them the resilience to discover and hold fast to their true selves.

With incredible warmth and tenderness, Amra Sabic-El-Rayess takes readers on a journey that will break their hearts and put them back together again. This is perfect for fans of other true stories for middle graders, like Hey, Kiddo; Free Lunch; and When Stars Are Scattered.

About the Author

Amra Sabic-El-Rayess grew up in Bihac, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Currently she is a professor at Columbia University’s Teachers College working on understanding how and why societies fall apart and what role education can play in rebuilding decimated countries. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed memoir The Cat I Never Named. sabicelrayess.org

Laura L. Sullivan is a former newspaper editor, biologist, social worker, and deputy sheriff who writes because storytelling is the easiest way to do everything in the world. Laura lives on the Florida coast.