Adem's Cross

Set in 1993, Mead's (Junebug) timely novel examines the plight of the ethnic Albanians of the former Yugoslavian province of Kovoso, now occupied by Serb forces. Adem has witnessed the tyranny of Serb troops for over four years, and has been taught to ""wait for things to get better and try to live life as normally as possible."" But after his sister is killed during a peaceful demonstration and Serbian soldiers take over his grandmother's store, the 12-year-old is enraged by his elders' passivity. In an act of defiance, Adem breaks their rule of remaining inconspicuous and walks down a road alone. This apparently simple action puts him and his family in grave danger. Only after he is aided by a Gypsy with neutral views does Adem realize that his dreams and those of his enemies are remarkably similar. Blame for corruption is not necessarily placed on Serbs, but more generally on the desperation to survive and gain power. While graphic depictions of violence invite sympathy for the Albanians, the message of this riveting novel carries a wider meaning. Ages 10-up. (Oct.)