Rabbit, soldier, angel, thief by Katrina Nannestad

At the beginning of this compelling story, we meet Sasha who is mute, traumatized and in a Berlin hospital. His memory and ability to talk are unlocked as he collects things which were significant to him during the war, such as feathers and spoons. He gradually retells his harrowing and brave survival story to the caring staff and patients. Sasha's story starts in 1942 and he is 6 years old living in a near idyllic Russian village. The Germans inflict violent retribution on villagers supporting the partisans, including Sasha’s mother and sister. His sister implores him to run and hide but when he returns the village has been razed to the ground. After the destruction of his home, he is taken under the wing of a division of The Red Army, who he travels with until the end of the war. A major part of the story takes place during the Siege of Stalingrad when the Germans were forced to surrender because they were cut off from food supplies and the severe Russian winter took its toll on their troops.

Nannestad successfully creates an endearing character in Sasha, who grows from a timid child to a more self-assured boy soldier. She based this work of historical fiction on a real Russian child soldier. Knowing this makes the story more significant. There are many likeable characters who become Sasha’s army family but principally it is Major Scruff who is Sasha’s protector and father figure. Nannestad gently teaches her readers about the horrors of war through Major Scruff’s words of wisdom to Sasha. As WW2 progresses Sasha learns that the “German monsters” are human too and his own Russian soldier friends are capable of retribution. The audience for this story is quite young, 10+, and Nannestad deftly tempers the necessary violence with Sasha’s contemplative voice, kindness, and humour. People die but this is never bloody or graphic. I liked the use of memorabilia collections, and it was an effective device for helping the story unfold. It was an easy read and reminded me of Gleitzmann’s “Once” series.

Themes: War, Love, Kindness, Death, Survival.

Jo Marshall