War sears its imprint on the human spirit in infinite ways. After her family is murdered and her body is ravaged by Serbian soldiers, Nermina Beganov’s only chance of survival is to flee her homeland. Nermina’s Chance begins in 1992 Bosnia at the outset of the Serbian campaign of genocide and rape, following the dissolution of Yugoslavia.
Today, once again, Bosnia faces an escalating crisis of genocide denial, nationalism, and renewed threats of ethnic cleansing — all terribly familiar to the Jewish diaspora.
At its heart, Nermina’s Chance plumbs the depths of a mother’s ardent love for her daughter. The novel explores the inevitable inheritance of trauma, but it also provides glimpses of hope as Nermina struggles to overcome profound loss and Atika forges her independence.
A work of historical fiction, Nermina’s Chance reveals inherent intersections between the Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims) and the Jewish diaspora; both have experienced profound intergenerational trauma and face ongoing discrimination.
This novel provides an ideal starting point for a dialogue focusing on refugees/survivors still suffering the effects of war and displacement.

Fiction
Nermina’s Chance
- From the Publisher
September 1, 2021
Discussion Questions

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