There's a lovely warmth about the extended Jewish-Italian family at the heart of this book, and a flow to the writing that draws us in from the start. Objectively, though, there's nothing fundamentally new or original about the story, based on the author's own family history, as Mussolini's fascist laws start to bite and the family is forced to make the difficult journey to Switzerland. Of course, stories of refugees, escape and people-smuggling are horribly timely all over again, but I found this less sophisticated than I'd hoped for - it feels a bit YA or even something for older children learning about Europe's troubled history for the first time. This makes the politics personal and accessible.

Lyrically written moving a story with moments that took my breath away.Avbook that leaves you with hope.Highly recommend this absorbing novel.#netgalley#europabooks,

What a subtle and powerful and ultimately hopeful book. One of the best things I’ve read in recent years.