S one strane oblaka

S one strane oblaka (Beyond the Clouds) is an autobiographical novel by Božena Loborec, published in 1979, in which the author recounts stories of young love, coming of age, and youth resistance during World War II and the occupation of Koprivnica. The plot is deeply rooted in her own experiences: in 1943, at the age of seventeen, Loborec joined the Partisans, and she later transformed the wartime years and the fates of her generation into a literary work.

At the heart of the novel lies a youth that, under different circumstances, would have been defined by school, friendships, and first loves; instead, the war alters daily life and forces young people to mature prematurely. Romantic feelings blossom amidst a world of fear, occupation, and uncertainty, even as the youth join the underground resistance against the Germans and the Ustaše. Thus, the war permeates the most intimate aspects of their lives, and the decisions they make carry serious consequences for themselves, their friends, and their families.

The novel is neither merely a love story nor a chronicle of wartime events, but rather a testament to the coming of age of a generation forced to grow up too soon. The author portrays the courage and idealism of the youth of Koprivnica, their underground activities, their bonds with one another, and their readiness to resist the occupation. Personal memory and historical reality intertwine in the work, giving the novel significant documentary value. Loborec herself emphasized that the events she describes are true and that she wished to preserve the memory of the young people of her town who refused to accept the occupation.