What do you think?
Rate this book
Hasan
Sometimes....
Sometimes the horror and devastation of war are just normal.
Sometimes the noise, the dirt, the destruction and the pain is just part of the day.
Sometimes the death and the loss is just what goes to make up your life.
Sometimes you just want out.
Sometimes the horror and devastation of war are just normal.
Sometimes the noise, the dirt, the destruction and the pain is just part of the day.
Sometimes the death and the loss is just what goes to make up your life.
Sometimes you just want out.
128 pages, Paperback
First published August 10, 2015
140 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 15, 2016
Hassan is a quick paced action novel set within a real world, current conflict. Mr. Sanders shows a good hand with plotting and setting this emotional story within fine detailed descriptions of war and its consequences. This is also a story of human emotions, choices and conflicts, which highlights the personal tragedy of war.
December 11, 2015
I bought this on Kindle this morning and even though I'm barely half way through, it's fantastic!I was sucked in immediately. The second half will have to wait til my kids go to bed later! In a few short chapters, I've already grown to care for Hasan, Ish and Asu.
June 15, 2016
An Excellent, Timely Story of Courage
I was pulled into the book Hasan right away, and didn’t want to put it down. The novel opens with title character Hasan huddled in his family’s kitchen (or what’s left of it) in the town of Homs when the Syrian civil war is in full swing. With him are his 10 year-old sister Ish and four year-old brother Asu, and downstairs is their dead father, who he hasn’t told them about. First and foremost on his mind is calming them down and getting them away from all the gunfire and violence that has taken over their city.
While I thought this would be difficult to read because of the intense subject matter, I instead found myself rooting for Hasan and pleased by his courage and intelligent choices, and his desire to save what’s left of his family. Saunders does a great job of portraying very real interactions between the tired, hungry siblings as the younger ones argue, whine, and seek comfort from their brother, all set against the backdrop of the violence in Syria and the different factions they encounter. You can tell Mr. Saunders did his research when he wrote this book. As the kids discuss past soccer games, school, and their friends, one realizes the humanity that unites us all, no matter the setting.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good adventure, or wanting to experience a first-person account of trying to get out of Syria. Refreshingly, this is a story about the Middle East that is not political or religious in nature. Debut novelist Drew Saunders does a superb job of simply telling the story of three kids who just want to be safe.
I was pulled into the book Hasan right away, and didn’t want to put it down. The novel opens with title character Hasan huddled in his family’s kitchen (or what’s left of it) in the town of Homs when the Syrian civil war is in full swing. With him are his 10 year-old sister Ish and four year-old brother Asu, and downstairs is their dead father, who he hasn’t told them about. First and foremost on his mind is calming them down and getting them away from all the gunfire and violence that has taken over their city.
While I thought this would be difficult to read because of the intense subject matter, I instead found myself rooting for Hasan and pleased by his courage and intelligent choices, and his desire to save what’s left of his family. Saunders does a great job of portraying very real interactions between the tired, hungry siblings as the younger ones argue, whine, and seek comfort from their brother, all set against the backdrop of the violence in Syria and the different factions they encounter. You can tell Mr. Saunders did his research when he wrote this book. As the kids discuss past soccer games, school, and their friends, one realizes the humanity that unites us all, no matter the setting.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good adventure, or wanting to experience a first-person account of trying to get out of Syria. Refreshingly, this is a story about the Middle East that is not political or religious in nature. Debut novelist Drew Saunders does a superb job of simply telling the story of three kids who just want to be safe.
May 11, 2016
This was a hard book to read all at once, even though it may be considered an 'easy' read. It was difficult journey to follow as the title character explains to us in his very teenage voice all the horror around him. He is challenged to care for his two younger siblings and flee Syria. The honesty of this fictionalized account is brutal. The tenderness and love he shares and experiences provides hope. The author is young and clearly identifies with his character who was inspired by another teen who did not survive. The short chapters gave me a chance to pause, reflect, and escape back to my safer reality. I recommend this most especially to younger readers - YA - teens - to hear a story told by someone they could know.
July 13, 2015
Astounding story of courage, determination, bravery, street smarts and not slugging your little sister when she is being a pain.
First time author Drew Saunders tells an explosive story from current history.
Sometimes...
having been taught well by your parents is what pulls you through.
"The important thing is not to die..."
First time author Drew Saunders tells an explosive story from current history.
Sometimes...
having been taught well by your parents is what pulls you through.
"The important thing is not to die..."
September 3, 2016
Awesome read . Hard to believe author was only 21 yrs old when he wrote Hasan because he
was so moved by a news report .
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews