The story is told by Alexi in twenty four short chapters with the addition in places of a commentary on the action presented in italics. In a bleak and abandoned area of the former Soviet Republic childhood no longer exists. Alexi and Misha’s father is broken by the devastation of the area, its effects on his way of life and the death of his wife. The children become almost feral in the way they have to scavenge for rocket parts as the currency for trade. The boys are in competition for the spoils with a rival gang who are much more ruthless. The need to take revenge by the leader of this gang, The Bat, is one of several obstacles to Alexi’s quest to get Misha to hospital in Moscow; all elements which will engage teenage boys in particular. The brothers' characters are well developed. Teenage readers will empathise with Alexi’s doubts, fears, actions and reactions. We admire Misha, as Alexi does, for his courage, insight and extraordinary gifts. But the quest is conducted in an unrelentingly bleak landscape and although love, loyalty and courage are illustrated, obstacles remain and there is no happy ending. We hope the boys will be reunited with the girl on the train; that the traffic will abate and let them cross the road; that the doctor in Moscow will relent and treat Misha; that the tumour will miraculously shrink but these things don’t happen and the reader and Alexi have to deal with Misha’s death.

This novel will work as a class reader for year 8 or year 9. There will need to be a classroom ethos which allows the readers to discuss their reactions to the setting, the characters and the ending as the themes of the breakdown of society, illness and death will affect some pupils more than they may want to admit.

2008-08-10