“A haunting portrait of families, human and otherwise, torn apart. . . . Hartnett combines powerful prose with magical realism.” —
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)
When the Germans attack their Romany encampment during World War II, Andrej and his younger brother, Tomas, flee through a ravaged countryside under cover of darkness, guarding a secret bundle. Their journey leads to a bombed-out town, where the boys discover a hidden wonder: a zoo filled with creatures in need of hope. Like Andrej and Tomas, the animals — wolf and eagle, monkey and bear, lioness and seal, kangaroo and llama — have stories to share and a mission to reclaim their lives.