"The Sandcastle Girls" is a historical novel written by Chris Bohjalian, published in 2012. Set during the Armenian Genocide in 1915, it tells the story of a young American woman named Elizabeth Endicott who travels to Aleppo, Syria, as part of a humanitarian effort to assist Armenian refugees. There, she meets a young Armenian engineer named Armen Petrosian, and they develop a deep connection amidst the chaos and tragedy of war. The novel alternates between Elizabeth's story and the narrative of Laura Petrosian, Elizabeth's granddaughter, who is uncovering the truth about her grandparents' past. Through these intertwining narratives, the novel explores themes of love, loss, identity, and the enduring impact of historical events on individuals and families. Bohjalian's novel sheds light on the Armenian Genocide, a tragic and often overlooked chapter in history, while also exploring the resilience of the human spirit and the power of love to transcend cultural and historical divides. It has received praise for its emotional depth, compelling storytelling, and historical accuracy, and has been lauded as an important contribution to the literature on the Armenian Genocide.
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