Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers’ Favorite:

Childhood can change in an instant. An eleven-year-old’s world is turned upside down when Iraq invades Kuwait in What We Left Behind by Aditi Wardhan Singh. Anvita is an Indian girl growing up in Kuwait in 1990. Up until the invasion, her daily life is pretty ordinary. She has her loved ones, some friends, school, books, and dreams before everything changes. Readers get a look at the fear and uncertainty of leaving the only home she’s ever known through Anvita’s eyes. The story also weaves in historical events through a child's perspective. At the end, there are extensions like discussion questions, a timeline, a glossary, and more. Will Anvita and her family find the strength to begin again?

What We Left Behind by Aditi Wardhan Singh was incredibly interesting. I learned a lot from this book. I liked how Anvita started as a typical kid. One morning, her mom asks if her brother is still sleeping. Instead of checking, Anvita simply says he was the last time she was in there. I admired her resilience and had empathy for her experience. The writing is clear and easy to follow. I thought it was effective that the author didn’t shy away from difficult moments, but covered them in a way that didn’t lose sight of hope. The discussion questions, timeline, glossary, and writing activities at the end help extend learning. As a teacher, I'd use it to explore empathy, immigration, and how children experience history. Students could write about what "home" means to them. I was drawn to the story because of its cover art by Noor Alshalabi. I loved how the colors corresponded with Anvita’s two worlds. Those looking for coming-of-age stories, historical fiction, and books that help children understand courage will want to pick this one up. I gladly recommend it for homes, classrooms, and libraries.