Reviewed by Kate Vreeland, Adult Librarian

A sweet, sad love story set in the Russian enclave of Brighton Beach, two children (Vaclav and Lena) find each other and become fast friends. They are suddenly separated, only to be reunited as teenagers. We are slowly let in on some of the secrets behind Lena's immigration and why she disappeared as she did. Vaclav also now knows what happened as they try to come to terms with Lena's past. We don't know whether they will be together as adults (as children they promised to marry), but we do see the beginnings of reconciliation and understanding. Five stars!

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