This historical fiction is set in 1950 rural Slovenia and follows the life of a young woman named Anja. She is smart and talented but is stuck trying to climb out from under an oppressive and corrupt government. From the very beginning, when the family struggles to make ends meet after her father's arrest due to "political resistance", it becomes evident that survival will quickly go from difficult to nearly impossible. Anja's family struggles to maintain control over their family farm, however Anja's determination to protect her family's legacy drives her to navigate betrayal and hardship, where she must confront not only threats from the regime but also internal conflicts within her family and community. Her story is filled with strength, sacrifice and resilience, driven by a strong young woman and fuelled by an unbreakable bond with her family.

I wanted to read this book because I enjoy historical fictions that are outside of the mainstream (WWII) market and focus on themes and events that I know very little about, so in that respect, this is the perfect book. The story is interesting and the main characters are well developed, but more detail around the political situation and the country's history would have been helpful. Unfortunately I had a difficult time getting into it and sticking with reading so I think that this book might not be a good fit for some readers. Anja Against the Odds is an important addition to the genre as there seems to be a limited number of stories on this topic, however I think some more time and revision on the writing might be something to consider.

Thanks to @netgalley and @booksforwardpr for giving me the chance to read and review this book!

I felt that I was hoping to get more of a picture of a country that is not represented much in historical fiction but could not get past the writing style, and wondered if perhaps it needs another round of edits before publication.

This is very young YA and not done particularly well. Some parts felt too vague while others gave too much unnecessary detail. Something about the dialogue felt stilted and anachronistic as well. I do like the setting as we don’t read much about Yugoslavia in historical fiction at this time. It was also surprisingly very Catholic, which is fine but I wasn’t expecting that.

Set in the challenging backdrop of 1950s rural Slovenia, “Anja, Against the Odds” follows the life of a young woman named Anja. She is portrayed as brilliant and talented but finds herself ensnared in the oppressive environment created by a corrupt government. The narrative explores her struggles and resilience as she faces numerous adversities.

The story begins with Anja’s family facing dire circumstances due to her father’s imprisonment for political resistance. This event sets off a chain reaction that threatens their family farm with nationalization, pushing Anja into a precarious situation where survival becomes paramount. Her determination to save her family’s legacy drives her into a dangerous game of survival against formidable odds.

As Anja navigates through betrayal and hardship, she must confront not only external threats from the totalitarian regime but also internal conflicts within her family and community. The narrative highlights her courage and resourcefulness as she seeks to protect what is dear to her amidst overwhelming challenges

This was a good, powerful book! I loved the way our main character was a fighter, and she was trying to save her family's farm and land. It was a bit unrealistic at times, so that made the book a little bit less enjoyable. It was well written and entertaining either way!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review!!