It was hard to find reviews of this short novel in English, so I went in not being sure what to expect. Ali Farah picks up the story in the middle, and the slow reveals combined with such gorgeously sharp characterisation of her young protagonists - and their valiant, vivacious mothers - made it a real treat. The writing is measured, evocative of riverside Rome, but shines with how the interior life of our drifting main character feels. The book captures the experiences of between betwixt and between, colorism and immigration, as well as the resiliance that loving found family can provide.