learn so much from everything I read by Ruta. Her novels are full of history that we are often not taught in America, presented in an approachable, beautiful way. This particular novel is about post-WWII communist Romania and the Ceauşescus who duped the western world into believing they were great while committing devastating acts of genocide. The novel follows a young high school aged boy, Cristian, as he navigates growing up during communist Romania. It is beautiful and heartbreaking.