Adem's Cross

by Alice Mead

Fourteen-year old Adem, an Albanian boy, lives in Serb-occupied Kosovo. Adem hates existing in a constant state of terror. Every week, friends and family are beaten, teargassed, and killed. The Albanians are helpless, and even passive resistance can get you killed--as is Adem's sister Fatmira, gunned down while reading a protest poem. Now Adem must decide how to survive this never-ending nightmare--with or without his family.

Mead's novel includes a brief history of the events leading to the Kosovo Conflict, a map of the region surrounding Kosovo, and a pronunciation guide.

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction

144 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 1996

About the author

Alice Mead is the author of many books for young readers, as well as a painter and human rights advocate. Though confined to a wheelchair, she lives independently in Maine.

Reviews

[Becky Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adem’s story is illustrative of the experiences of hundreds of Kosovar children who lived through the Serbian conflict. I have visited Kosovo 5 times since the war and talked to many university students whose families were torn apart during the Serbian massacre. The stories of the crosses cut on the bodies of the dead were horrifying.
Thankfully, the Americans finally did wake up, intervene, and insure the safety of the people of Kosovo. The scars are still etched on the land and in the hearts of the survivors.

[Sue Merrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately I let this book languish on my overflowing book shelves for 25 years. I probably would have enjoyed it even more if the conflict in Kosovo were fresh in my memory. As it is Adem represents all the young people caught in wars all over the world, confused about what is true, who to trust, and where to commit their passion and energy. The little details like the detritus of war...shell casings among the gravel...and the smells of the people and the hovels make the setting seem authentic. It is clear this author has been there. The passions and problems also ring true. I think it would be a good read for young people who could identify with this 14-year-old. It has the right mix of new experiences -- such as war and a captured bear -- and familiar refrains: constantly drinking coke, the snub of a childhood chum who's from the other side, and feeling like a parent parent favors an older cousin.

[Mr.me]

I have curently read a book called Adem's Cross. The book is about a kid named Adem who is struggling in his new world during the serbian ocupation in kosovo. The story is about the struggles and the mistreatment of his people during these hard times. This paragraph was short but imformative and helpful to future readers.

[Besart Beqiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really shows the struglles that albanians had to go through to live without the fear of serbian police. I dont only like this book because Im albanian but the author really shows the story rather than telling it.

[Clynton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book because it made me think about my life. The novel takes the reader into the life of Adem, and the struggles he and his family go through during war. It promotes reflection of our own personal life, compared to struggles that most of us do not have to face.

[goose · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like this book because this was the frist book i ever finsh reading. Mrs B'Bach took some of her time to read this book with. Adem is a strong and brave kid.

[Daniel Jakana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not that good, the book to me was kind of boring. I think it was uninteresting for me because I usually do not not read this type genre.