Only a Matter of Time(Survivors Series): A Story from Kosovo

From School Library Journal
Grade 7-10-In Kosovo, in 1998, Serbs and Albanians lead separate lives. Although Drita Binaku, an Albanian, and Zoran Sakic, a Serb, are neighbors, they don't meet until the summer before she is to enter high school. As tensions in their country escalate, Drita's Muslim family pulls her out of the school. She and Zoran continue to communicate through letters left in an old milk churn, and, after Dr. Gashi, her elderly tutor, hires Zoran as a handyman, they occasionally meet at the tutor's home. All three believe that friendship between the two cultures is the only way peace can be obtained. As the civil war heats up, each of the teenagers manages to warn the other's family, but neither they nor the NATO planes overhead can stop the wave of violence that culminates in a massacre in the village. Although Drita eventually returns to her village, she does not know if she will ever see Zoran again. Based on an actual incident, the story is clearly told, but it never really comes to life. The characters are sketchily drawn and their relationship is unclear. There is little to anchor this story in a particular culture, little to help American readers understand how that country could have splintered so badly.Kathleen Isaacs, Edmund Burke School, Washington, DCCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Book Description
It is early in 1999 when Drita, an Albanian, and Zoran, a Serb, become friends. They are like any other teenagers—but this is Kosovo, where Serb-Albanian tensions are rising. Learning that their families have become enemies, Drita and Zoran are forced to meet in secret. The violence that strikes their community is powerful enough to destroy even the strongest of friendships, and Drita and Zoran are about to begin a fight for their lives. Will their friendship survive the terrible struggle? Survivors is a brand-new and dramatic collection of short novels for young readers, each book about a young person caught up in a real-life conflict or disaster that boys and girls will recognize from their history books. The stories are fiction, but through each young hero's eyes, the boys and girls who read these tales will gain a deeper understanding of the day-to-day hardships and dangers encountered by people living and surviving through troubled times. Each book has a brief introduction relating actual historical events, and at the end of each book, young readers will find a brief historical note that places the story in a larger context plus a glossary of terms specific to the time and place. Boys and girls will also find a list of suggested further reading. Line illustrations capture the atmosphere of each story. Titles in this series are available in both paperback and hardcover editions. This is a hardcover book. (Ages 10-13)

Back Cover Copy
? ?We are the future, Drita. You and me. Albanian and Serb, good friends. It?s the way it must be in Kosovo.? When I think now how innocent we were, it makes me cry.?

It is early in 1999 when Drita, an Albanian, and Zoron, a Serb, become friends. They?re like any other teenagers, but this is Kosovo, and Serb-Albanian tension is rising. When they find that their families are now enemies, Drita and Zoron are forced to meet in secret. The events that follow are enough to destroy even the strongest friendship. Will their friendship survive?

Survivors is an unusual collection of fictional stories based on historical fact. Central to these stories are young people caught up in the conflicts and disasters of their time. Experience through their eyes the day-to-day hardships and dangers they encountered. Line illustrations capture the atmosphere of each story.


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Gr 7-10-In Kosovo, in 1998, Serbs and Albanians lead separate lives. Although Drita Binaku, an Albanian, and Zoran Sakic, a Serb, are neighbors, they don't meet until the summer before she is to enter high school. As tensions in their country escalate, Drita's Muslim family pulls her out of the school. She and Zoran continue to communicate through letters left in an old milk churn, and, after Dr. Gashi, her elderly tutor, hires Zoran as a handyman, they occasionally meet at the tutor's home. All three believe that friendship between the two cultures is the only way peace can be obtained. As the civil war heats up, each of the teenagers manages to warn the other's family, but neither they nor the NATO planes overhead can stop the wave of violence that culminates in a massacre in the village. Although Drita eventually returns to her village, she does not know if she will ever see Zoran again. Based on an actual incident, the story is clearly told, but it never really comes to life. The characters are sketchily drawn and their relationship is unclear. There is little to anchor this story in a particular culture, little to help American readers understand how that country could have splintered so badly.-Kathleen Isaacs, Edmund Burke School, Washington, DC Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.


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