The Day of the Pelican by Katherine Paterson is a suspenseful and meaningful read. Narrated by Meli, a 12 year old Albanian Muslim, the story of her family's survival during a time of war and bloodshed in Kosovo is both heartbreaking and hopeful. Taking place in 1998-1999, she tells us of her family's flight during the Serbian attempts to clear Kosovo of all Albanian citizens. Meli talks of fear in the face of your enemy, of her struggle with hatred, and having to grow up before you're ready. When we think of people being herded in to trains and carted away like cattle or when the term "ethnic cleansing" is spoken many tend to remember only the Holocaust. The Day of the Pelican reminds us that history can and does repeat itself. And, Meli speaks to try and stop us from allowing it to ever happen again.

You may recognize the author's name from her recent book Bread and Roses, Too or her widely known Bridge to Terabithia. (Have you seen the movie yet?) She writes again of a young adult's struggle to cope with death and understand what it takes to live a meaningful life.