Who Owns the Clouds?

Readers are introduced to Mila through a sketched sepia photo of her as a girl on the title page of Who Owns the Clouds?. Opening with, “Did you notice the old photo of me on the first page? It was taken a few hours before we left”, Mila prompts readers to slow down and look back, reminding them to take their time – they could miss important details if they rush through her story. Reflecting on how she can barely recognize herself in the photo, Mila brings readers back to her childhood in an unnamed war-torn country. She remembers being aware of the danger surrounding her and her family, how she fought off sleep because she was scared she might miss something, and how, when she did sleep, things always seemed a little worse when she woke up. No matter how bad things were, her family did what they could to distract and protect her from knowing the full extent of the danger.

To cope with a situation no child should have to face, Mila described how she tried to distract and sooth herself, and to hold onto her innocence, by keeping “watch over what was left of gentleness in the world, found in the soft coats of the stray cats” in her village. While she can find distractions through the day, her dreams are fueled by her worries: she dreams about standing in an endless line along with everyone from her village. No one seems to know where the line goes: some hold hope it leads to a way out; those who have lost hope think it may go nowhere. If there were a way to climb the walls of the factory near the edge of her village, she might be able to catch a glimpse of what awaits on the other side. With the factory surrounded by dogs and guards, climbing the factory walls seems an impossible feat; however, one night her uncle manages to make it up, perching on a chimney that lets him see further than anyone else. Knowing he has the full attention of the guards, he takes pleasure in the moment while he can: he straightens his tie, dons a red clown nose for a moment, then drops the nose down the chimney. Her parents shield her eyes from what happens next. When she wakes up the next morning, her parents tell her that her uncle is missing. Reality and dreams become blurred, and they never see her uncle again.

With the war getting worse, her family has no choice but to join the line that may or may not go anywhere. Mila, her sister, and her mother pack small bags with essentials; her father carries a much heavier suitcase. Once they’re settled in Canada, it’s revealed that Mila’s father’s suitcase carried photographs. Mila remarks that their memories of the past differ so much it’s hard to believe they lived it together, even with photos laid in front of them showing they did.

Sepia sketches, mimicking the look of old and aged photographs, reflect the dreary existence Mila’s family lived as war changed their lives forever. Occasional appearances of colour in the form of blue skies, explosions, and her uncle’s red clown nose, emphasize strong waves of emotion, positive and negative. The use of light and dark and emotion captured in the faces of Mila and those around her express emotions words wouldn’t do justice.

Who Owns the Clouds? is a story of trauma, hope, and resilience. Mila’s memories give readers a sense of what life was like for her and her family before escaping war, and how the experience still haunts them. Mila knows she doesn’t stand out but is still very different from most people. Mila describes how standing in line can trigger her, and how she copes with the trauma: picturing her uncle’s red clown nose brings her comfort and makes her smile, much like her housecats do.

Before coming to Canada, Mila and her sister used to sort clouds into two categories: the white one that belonged to them, and the dark ones that didn’t. Mila, now 34, still wonders who the clouds belong to, and she compares them to memories: light, fluffy clouds high up in the sky, and dark clouds that weigh down on those below them until they’re released and float away.

As seen through Mila’s eyes, as a child and as an adult, the contents of Who Owns the Clouds? will help readers of any age better understand the effects living through war and being forced to leave can have throughout someone’s life. Readers will be inspired by the resilience people have and the strength they find when faced with impossible situations.