Sasha hasn’t spoken. Not since he’s been at the hospital. No one knows why, not even Sasha, but he does know he needs certain things. He needs them so badly he plans how to get them, and then hides them from prying eyes. Why does he need them? He doesn’t know that either.

Feathers from a pillow, a fluffy hat. There is a knotted piece of rope and matchboxes full of ash. It’s a posy of flowers given to him by his doctor that brings a word from his lips. A tiny bunch that triggers a memory. Sasha begins to speak.

He tells of life in a Russian village with his mother and big sister Yelana. Sasha is only 6 in this memory, and he remembers the fields surrounding the village, full of flowers. Then the Germans soldiers come. They stomp through Sasha’s village in their big black boots, kicking in doors, then people, all the while laughing. When they finally leave, at even only 12 yeas old, Yelana vows to fight back. They have already lost an older sister and their father to the war, and she doesn’t want to lose any more.

Sasha remembers the consequences of her decision, in the shape of 12 matchboxes full of ash.

More memories surface in the shape of a beetle, some buttons and a pile of white feathers. These memories come from being taken in and cared for by soldiers of the Red Army, fighting against the German war machine. He becomes a light for the soldiers, as he is kind, gentle and sweet in a world of war. He loves to sing and is generous with kisses on cheeks and hugs where he thinks one is needed.

Slowly over time, Sasha reveals more of his life over the past few years. He has collected more things that seem important, but are only understood once he begins talking.

A story told in the point of view of a small, 6 yr old Russian boy. It begins in a hospital after the second world war, but the reader is taken back to 1942 when the Red Army (Russia) are fighting to rid their country of German soldiers. Sasha learns first hand how ruthless war is, losing much, but he is cared for by Russian soldiers and he soon becomes essential to their small military unit.

Based upon a real boy named Sergey Aleshkov, Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief, gives a view inside the Russian side of the story – fighting to reclaim their country and their way of life. There were others like Sasha and Sergey, taken in by Red Army soldiers instead of leaving them on their own.

Author – Katrina Nannestad

Age – 8+

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(2021, Harper Collins, War, WWII, Russian, Red Army, German soldiers, Nazis, Family, Grief, Loss, Kindness, Love, Injured, Animals, Courage, Historical, Hospital, Mute)