Synopses & Reviews
This poignant novel explores how a unilateral decision can change a life.Two things are hard for Joel Gustafson to cope with: not knowing why, and not being able to do anything about it. Joels father was once a sailor who lived by the sea. Joels mother once lived with them. Joels father abandoned the sea. Joels mother abandoned Joel and his father.
While looking out his window one night, Joel sees a lonely dog on the street. Joel spots the animal again and begins sneaking out night after night, trying to find it. During these nocturnal outings, Joel discovers aspects of life he has never imagined. And then one night he discovers that his fathers bed, too, is empty.
As Joel investigates his fathers mysterious absences and continues to search for the dog, he discovers his own inner strength and learns about adult disappointments and needs.
Synopsis
One of the world's best-selling authors has written a moving story about a teenager's life in Northern Sweden.
12-year-old Joel lives with his father in the cold northern part of Sweden. At night he often sneaks out of the house to look for a lonely dog he has seen from his window. On the bridge across the icy river he starts a secret society and has adventures. But one night he discovers that his father's bed is also empty, and so he will have to come to terms with his father's newfound love. The harsh reality of Joel's world comes vividly to life and leaves the reader spellbound.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
About the Author
Henning Mankell is the prizewinning and internationally acclaimed author of novels for both adults and young people. His adult novels dominate bestseller lists across Europe. Born in a village in northern Sweden, Mankell divides his time between Sweden and Africa, where he works with AIDS-related charities. He is also director of Teatro Avenida in Maputo, Mozambique. Mankell's companion novels about Joel and his father are Shadows in the Twilight, When the Snow Fell, and Journey to the End of the World.