About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is starting to ask complex questions about truth, authority, or why good people sometimes do bad things. It is an essential choice for a middle grade reader who is ready to move beyond simple hero stories and explore how individuals maintain their integrity when their entire world is built on lies. This Newbery Honor book follows ten year old Sasha, a boy who loves his father and his country, only to have both taken from him in a single night. Through Sasha's eyes, parents can introduce the historical reality of the Soviet Union while focusing on universal themes of courage and disillusionment. While the setting is specific, the emotional core deals with the painful but necessary process of forming one's own values independently of adults. It is a slim, fast paced, and deeply moving story that normalizes the feeling of being an outsider and provides a safe space to discuss what it means to be truly loyal to oneself.
