"Through the eyes of a young boy, McQueen crafts a devastating and unforgettable portrait of the Defense of Van - a story of resilience against impossible odds." -Eric Z. Weintraub, author of South of Sepharad"Written with short and compelling chapters, this novel plunges the reader with authenticity into this little-known act of defiance ..." -Marsha Skrypuch, author of Making Bombs for Hitler and the Kidnapped from Ukraine trilogyThe government wants them dead.
Fourteen-year-old Suren Simonian, an Armenian, lives as most boys his age do in the city of Van, eastern Anatolia. He goes to school, gawks at boys' fistfights, and does his best to avoid the Turkish gendarmes. Most days he spends with his Turkish best friend, Hamza.
But in spring 1915, rumors spread through Van of Turkish massacres of Armenian villages. Now Turkish troops have massed outside Van with one goal-to exterminate the city's Armenians.
As Suren struggles to understand what it means to be a man, he knows one thing for sure: When everything you've known and loved is at stake, the only answer is to fight back. You can never hide from the devil.
Based on a true story of resistance during the Armenian Genocide, this stirring coming-of-age novel is a parable of courage, friendship, and impossible choices in the midst of unimaginable horror.
About the Author :
N.T. McQueen is an avid writer and dedicated college lecturer. With a master's degree in fiction from California State University, Sacramento, McQueen has brought unique perspectives on human nature to readers in his captivating novels Never Hide from the Devil (Cennan, 2026), The Cry of Dry Bones (2021), and Between Lions and Lambs (2011). His writing has been featured in North American Review, Stonecoast Review, Entropy, Sunlight Press, Atticus Review, Dappled Things, Grief Digest Magazine, and Foreword Magazine. He lives in California with his wife and daughters and enjoys fishing, traveling, and a tasty cup of coffee.
Review :
Set at the onset of the Armenian Genocide in 1915, fourteen-year-old Suren's life is upended when the Turkish army surrounds the city of Van. Many Armenians flee for their lives, but against their parents' wishes, Suren and his friends fight back. Written with short and compelling chapters, this novel plunges the reader with authenticity into this little-known act of defiance during the 20th century's first genocide.
-Marsha Skrypuch, author of Making Bombs for Hitler and the Kidnapped from Ukraine trilogy
Through the eyes of a young boy, McQueen crafts a devastating and unforgettable portrait of the 1915 Defense of Van-a story of resilience against impossible odds that delivers the history of the Armenian Genocide to a new generation.
-Eric Z. Weintraub, author of South of Sepharad
The horrors perpetrators commit are only half the story of genocide. The other half is the resistance of its victims. N.T. McQueen delivers a powerful novel of courage and defiance in the face of annihilation, inspired by the Armenian defense of Van in 1915.
-Dr. Khatchig Mouradian, Columbia University, author of The Resistance Network
From the perspective of a teenage boy, McQueen masterfully weaves a poignant narrative set against the heavy emotional backdrop of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, where boys are compelled to become men overnight. McQueen's skill in crafting coming-of-age stories provides a rare glimpse of and an ideal lens through which to develop characters as they navigate the untold experiences of the Armenian Freedom Fighters.
-Victoria Atamian Waterman, author of What She Left Behind
Bold, gripping, and unforgettable, Never Hide from the Devil shines a light on the Armenian genocide, an often overlooked chapter in history. Told through the eyes of a young hero determined to protect his people, N.T.'s impactful novel is both heart-pounding and relatable, and stays with the reader long after the final page. Perfect for adult and YA readers alike
