I was interested in this story from the first intriguing sentence. I love reading true stories about people overcoming obstacles. I also enjoy reading about animals. This story takes place during the recent ISIS occupation of Mosul. As you can imagine, the main character, Abu Laith, had a difficult time not only keeping his family safe, but also taking care of his zoo animals, particularly the lion he had raised from a cub. Many times I was on the edge of my seat wondering if the people and animals would survive the bombings, the starvation, the occupation of wicked men. The author helped me understand the struggles of people in another land and culture. This book could be great for a book club.