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“This is an inspiring and brave story about a young boy and his mother. He asks his mom an important question. To answer that question, she takes him on a magical journey telling him about her life as a child and how she became a refugee and immigrant later in life.”

—Publisher

Adem and The Magic Fenjer

Written by Selma Baćevac
Illustrated by Neira Pekmez
Published by BookBaby

Adem and The Magic Fenjer follows Adem, a boy who asks the question: “How come no one else at school eats burek mama?” His mom, a refugee immigrant come to the United States, takes him on a magical adventure and tells him about the beauty of Bosnia and Herzegovina. She weaves the tale of what made her leave Bosnia and how she came to the United States as a child herself. Join Adem and his mother as she shares with him the history vital to their traditions and helps him answer why his family specifically knows about burek.

This story is designed to educate young readers and their parents about the Bosnian-American experience. Between the covers of this book is an emotional journey that is sure to connect readers to what it’s like to view life from the perspective a Bosnian immigrant. Anyone looking to diversify their bookshelf in the pursuit of a well-rounded education should invest in this sentimental tale now. By including refugee immigrants into the familiar American story, it brings a relatively modern twist to the American experiment. The importance of weaving together each culture’s unique history and stories only becomes more and more important as the United States evolves, and Adem’s journey is another pivotal piece in the puzzle of understanding one another.

A psychotherapist wrote the book intending to connect Bosnian-American children to their history and educate others about the important stories we do not hear about often.

Primary ISBN:
Publication Date: May 2022
Available As: Paperback
Picture Book, Age 03 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: United States

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation, Refugee

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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