About This Book
A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is starting to ask complex questions about the morality of war, the burden of national identity, or how a good person survives in an impossible situation. It is an intense, visceral story about Erik, a sixteen-year-old German soldier on the Eastern Front who survives by posing as a Russian soldier. Beyond the combat, the book explores the deep psychological weight of deception and the shared humanity that exists even between enemies. Given its gritty and realistic depiction of the horrors of World War II, it is best suited for mature readers aged 13 and up who are ready to engage with the darker aspects of history. It is a powerful tool for building empathy and understanding the nuance behind historical labels of hero and villain.
