American War

American War is the fourth book in the How to Read a Novel online course prepared by the University of Edinburgh. This novel by Omar El Akkad is about the Second American Civil War that commenced in 2075. Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia have broken away from the rest of the USA . Global warming has greatly affected many parts of the USA, especially in the south, and most of the country, except for the four above mentioned southern states, has decided to no longer use fossil fuels.

In the beginning of the novel we meet members of the Chestnut family - the parents Benjamin and Martina, nine year old Simon and twins Dana and Sarat. They have lost their home to flood waters and live in a shipping container. The father is trying to obtain safe passage for the family to the North when he is killed by Southern insurgents. When the area near their home is bombed Martina decides to take the children to a refugee camp, Cape Patience, where, in theory, they will be kept safe.

While the USA is self destructing the power balance in the rest of the world has changed with China and a conglomerate of Arab nations, Bouazizi, now superpowers. Aid ships bring supplies which do not always reach the people who need them. In the South there are a number of splinter groups pushing their own agenda. Break away groups also exist in the North. Sarat is befriended by an older man and is eventually recruited to carry out special missions.

There are obvious parallels in the plot with the involvement of the USA military in the affairs of other counties, especially Arab nations. The effects of Global Warming are graphically described along with the refusal of some people to accept that changes must be made for the survival of the country as well as the safety of family members. The belief by some groups that only they have the right answers is destroying the country and preventing hope for peace. Meanwhile the lives of generations are being destroyed through total disregard for the lives of others resulting in hatred of those in power in general.

A powerful story, at times dealing with physical and mental torture, which unfortunately rings true with events happening in parts of the world today, particularly in America.

This book was short listed for the James Tait Black Award for 2017.