Book Review: Jealous of the Dead: Secrets of an Immigrant Survivor

Some books stay with you because they refuse to let history slip into silence. Jealous of the Dead: Secrets of an Immigrant Survivor is one of those books. It brings the Bosnian War into sharp focus through the eyes of a young girl who lived through hunger, displacement, concentration camps, and the long road to safety. The writing is clear and honest, and it never turns away from the truth of what happened.

What moved me most was how the author captures the experience of arriving in America and feeling caught between identities. Not American enough. Not Bosnian enough. Not enough of anything. That feeling is familiar to so many immigrants and refugees, and she puts words to it with a kind of emotional precision that stays with you.

These stories are not told nearly enough. The world still knows too little about the genocide in Bosnia, and books like this help correct that silence. They shine a light on a history that should never be forgotten and remind us why we must keep speaking about it, especially now, when the world continues to allow violence against vulnerable communities.

On a personal note, I am honored to know the author. She read an early version of my memoir, Where the Mountains Raised Me, and offered thoughtful, generous feedback during my editing stage. Her insight helped strengthen my work, and I am grateful for her presence in my writing life. Strong Balkan women authors unite.

Jealous of the Dead deserves a place in every library. It is powerful, necessary, and beautifully told. I am so glad this book exists.

Grab your copy now! Don’t wait! Jealous of the Dead.

(Featured image: me with the author at Mehanata Bulgarian Restaurant, Des Plaines, IL)