Blurb

Wood splinters and Mama screams and the nearest soldier seizes her roughly by the arms. My sister pokes her bruised face out from beneath the table and shouts, 'Run, Sasha! Run!'

So I run. I run like a rabbit.

It's spring, 1942. The sky is blue, the air is warm and sweet with the scent of flowers.

And then everything is gone.

The flowers, the proud geese, the pretty wooden houses, the friendly neighbours. Only Sasha remains.

But one small boy, alone in war-torn Russia, cannot survive.

One small boy without a family cannot survive.

One small boy without his home cannot survive.

What that small boy needs is an army

The CBCA judges say...

Inspired by a true story this book sensitively deals with the horrors, friendships, hardships and ingenuity that are the products of wartime. The four parts of the story are each foreshadowed by the motifs that Sasha collects, adding meaning to the telling. The parts are also reflected in the title enhancing the meaning-laden story full of sadness, tragedy, hope and joy. Sasha's innocence is conveyed beautifully, bringing light and joy to what could have been a very dark story. The characters are heart warming and engaging for the readers and a highlight of the story.

The Reading Time reviewers say...

Read the Reading Time review Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief.

Teaching Notes for this book...

The publisher has generously made teaching notes available for this book.

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