The Boy Who Refused to Sing: A picture book for older readers about having the courage to fight for your freedom

This work was inspired by the author's father, Nikola Baric, who escaped from former Yugoslavia in search of freedom in 1957. It is a simple narrative with universal themes. While it is about the brutality of life under communism, the book questions how free anyone is.

Publisher Marketing: Jayne Roberts 5.0 out of 5 stars Wow...what an incredibly unique book with a deeply emotive and thought-provoking true story to tell 29 October 2017 - Published on Amazon.com Verified Purchase Based on a family memoir of life in the former Yugoslavia under Marshall Tito's regime, it's an evocatively dark and sombre reminder of the price many have paid to stand for what they believe in. The stunningly tenebrous illustration and discriminating narrative took me on a heartfelt, voyeuristic journey into this family's suffering and determination to fight for their freedom. It seeped through me in silent tears and left me in a quiet reverence...realizing we are all fighting for freedom on some level. Definitely a one for the in-print bookshelf! Robin Storey 5.0 out of 5 stars Poignant and Thought-provoking 30 October 2017 - Published on Amazon.com This story may be short but packs a powerful emotional punch. You have to admire the courage of someone who was prepared to stand up for his beliefs when it would have been so much easier and safer to shut up and sing like everyone else, and the fact that he was a schoolboy makes it even more heroic. The images are beautifully rendered and work well with the words to give just the right emotional tone. Publisher Marketing : The Boy Who Refused to Sing was inspired by Leeza Baric's father, Nikola Baric who escaped from former Yugoslavia in search of freedom in 1957. Based on a true story, it is a simple narrative with universal themes. While it is about the brutality of life under communism, the book questions how free any of us are today. What songs are you being forced to sing and how far would you go to fight for your freedom? Contributor Bio: Baric, Leeza Leeza Baric is an author and creative writing mentor. With a Masters in Communication (Creative Writing), Leeza is passionate about life stories and helping people to write their stories. She believes that the pen is mightier than the sword in fighting for our freedoms and that by sharing our stories we become more connected and can change the world. Contributor Bio: Fa, Oscar Oscar Fa is a freelance French artist specialized in concept art and digital illustration. He undertakes projects such as book cover design, illustrated books, children's picture books, logo, and graphic design. He has always been curious and passionate about painting, and tries to fill his days with color!

Format: Paperback | Pages: 42 | Publication Date: 2019-03-29