M&B June Book Club Pick: American War
The book of the month for May is American War by Omar El Akkad - a rare breed of dystopian writing in the sense of its eerie plausibility. Set in the 2070s-2090s, the story follows Sarat Chestnut, a young girl from Louisiana who is growing up in a sprawling refugee camp in the midst of America’s second Civil War. Triggered by the assassination of a president who had signed legislation outlawing fossil fuels, a unified Free Southern State compromised of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina, secedes from the Union. From then on, the Free Southern State exists in significant poverty, living in dependence off the aid ships which arrive monthly from the new global superpowers – China and the Bouazizi Empire (what is modern day Northern Africa).
In the interest of not wanting to give too much away, I’ll leave the plot at that. A few takeaways I had from this book were the dehumanizing effects of war, the “othering” of an enemy, the devastating impacts of human pride impeding global peace, and just how easy it is to forge an extremist when their health, safety, and way of life are at their most vulnerable.
The most chilling moment is when you come to realize this isn’t just a dystopic novel set in a futuristic yet crumbling America. It is a reality for people all over the world. The reality for millions of refugees, or for the hundreds of thousands trapped in war-torn regions with no stake in the cause. It’s a story about those who participate out of necessity for survival, or those who’s lives have been so irrevocably damaged by stubborn politics that their fear festers into deadly anger and radical actions. It is worth reading if you have any interest in human rights, international politics or just enjoy a thrilling novel.
Cover photo from Read It Forward.
