American War

Set in a dystopian future of 2074, Omar El Akkad’s debut novel explores a second American Civil War amid a backdrop of a deadly plague and family struggles. The story centers on Sarat, who faces loss and deception, and is driven by a resolve to end the war, despite not having started it. Recognized as a Best Book of the Year by multiple major publications, the novel invites reflection on the consequences of a nation turning its own destructive forces inward.