Thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for making this story available for reading and reviewing!

This short story by Kinan Kotrash is a tale of the day to day horrors and hardships of war. It follows a mother doing what she can to keep her young son alive and fed.

I think the story was beautifully written, the language is emotive but to the point. The small details set the mood: A glass upside down, a swing hanging by only one chain, a curtain drawn shut.

It's a somber story but it does contain compassion and solidarity. This serves as a reminder that when there is a war or crisis, the greatest asset we have is each other.

Little Shoes a short story novel that follows a small boy and his mother in Europe during the War. We see what a day can be for a mother to try and watch out for her child by trying to get a meager amount of food for him. Watching him in the courtyard playing with another child. One day during a horrible time. Each day wondering what will happen to the people just trying to survive. A sweet sad story seen through the eyes of a small family.

This is a beautiful, heartbreaking story. Brief in length, yet the love and resilience woven throughout leave a lasting imprint on the heart. Long after I turned the final page, I found myself sitting with its quiet grief, thinking about how this is a story that has been lived over and over again. The author invites the reader to sit with those emotions rather than look away, allowing the story to linger long after it ends.

"All the ordinary things that had become, in one night, larger than they had ever deserved to be."

This story begins in a deceptively mundane way, yet the emotional concentration of it is undeniable. This novelete reveals the deepest truths of life and war, taking a few seemingly small moments and opening up the question of, "What will remain when war chooses to take everything but memory?"

Its a hauntingly beautify read that can be finished in one sitting, yet it's one that will remain with you for a long time after. This is one I would highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, this short book packs a punch! The timeframe is short but so much happens in that short amount of time. It's a heartbreaking story that really makes you think about life after you've finished the book.

Thank you Kinan Kotrash | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for allowing me to read and review Little Shoes on NetGalley.

Published: 03/10/26

Can cruelty be beautiful? Little Shoes is a well-written, a fiercely descriptive story. From the planes overhead bombing day in and day out to the broken toys and missing people days later, Kotrash transported me.

I do believe this should be required reading for a multitude of reasons in classes from creative writing to specific cultures.

I wholeheartedly recommend.

Little Shoes and Other Small Things is a fast read that stays with you for a while. It has a great style that reads just like a beautiful, sad poem.We see the world through the young boy's eyes as he looks for his mother. The story uses small, everyday things to show how he survives. It is deeply sad but really beautiful.This short book has a big emotional impact. It is perfect for anyone who loves poetic stories and deep characters
.Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.