History moves on swiftly, and if it were not for books like Everything Worth Counting by Mihaela Balan Larsen, we may never recall the communist dictatorship in Romania under Nicolae Ceaușescu and the uprising in 1989. Eva Toma is left a widow when an earthquake destroys her home, and she flees Bucharest to live with her parents in a rural area. Her son Alex loses his home and friends but settles in the countryside, although, at the age of ten, toiling in the fields with his grandfather is hard work. But Eva has plans for her son, like education and a career, and vows to escape from Romania and take refuge with her sister in Barcelona, Spain. She can see life in Romania becoming harder and harder, with food shortages, government oppression, and an even bleaker future. It is dangerous, but with help, she and Alex land in Italy and are transported to a camp for political asylum seekers. For the second time, Alex leaves everyone he loves and the life he had come to accept, but Italy is not their final chosen destination.

Alex Toma is the star in Mihaela Balan Larsen’s narrative, Everything Worth Counting, and events are seen through his eyes. Yet it is his mother, Eva, who shows courage, tenacity, and valor in fleeing Romania, then under a communist dictatorship. We learn of the hardships and obstacles of life as a displaced person, the unending red tape, and the dangers of being a widow in a foreign land. Alex is ten at the time of the earthquake, and the narrative covers three years. The writing will resonate with every reader, as we can so clearly feel the emotions of both mother and child. What is it like to be homeless, dependent on the kindness of near strangers, and cope in a refugee camp? This story takes you there, with the highs, the lows, and the small victories. I recommend this book to readers who like recent history and take an interest in world affairs. A great first novel for author Mihaela Balan Larsen.

In Mihaela Balan Larsen’s Everything Worth Counting, Alexandru “Alex” Toma survives a devastating earthquake in Zimnicea, which kills his father, Cornel, and his friend, George, leaving him and his mother alone amid collapsing buildings. Alex and his mother navigate ruined streets and seek shelter before eventually reaching a train station to evacuate to safety in Izvoarele. There, they hide with Alex’s grandparents while his mother urgently plans their escape from Romania, amid growing political unrest and government oppression. She consults Costel Carp and arranges a secret journey, traveling by train to Constanța and boarding a ship to Italy while avoiding the authorities. At a refugee camp in Latina, Alex and his mother endure harsh conditions, wait for asylum approval, and face uncertainty about their future as they follow news of their homeland and the life they left behind.

Mihaela Balan Larsen’s Everything Worth Counting is a heartening story that really leans into the portrayal of the extremes people and, more significantly, mothers, are willing to pursue to save their loved ones. The timeliness of this novel could not be better, given the current issues around the globe and the treatment of contemporary refugees, but this is the story of Alex and Eva, and it is important that we stay on track with that. Larsen makes this easy through the real issues of Romania under Nicolae Ceaușescu, and the results of devastating initiatives like the Rural Systematization program. Still, we see acts of kindness and resourcefulness, and how others cope with displacement. The daily routines, shared meals, and celebrating a wedding are beautiful representations of the ways a community sustains people in transition. Overall, this is a well-written novel and a difficult but worthy read.