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Nel mare ci sono i coccodrilli
Storia vera di Enaiatollah Akbari
256 pages
An unflinching and deeply moving journey of a young boy's survival and resilience across borders.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like walking alongside a child through a vast, unforgiving landscape, anchored by an incredibly moving sense of resilience. The narrative moves at a steady, deliberate pace, mirroring the long and agonizing struggle of forced migration and the harsh realities of fending for oneself. Its tone is unflinching yet deeply inspirational, grounding the reader in the poignant, tense atmosphere of a dangerous world seen through the eyes of youth. The prose, translated from its original Italian, is direct and emotionally resonant, capturing the authentic texture of autobiographical fiction without shielding the reader from the heartbreak of abandonment. It will deeply move readers who seek earnest, true-to-life stories about the refugee experience, the loss of innocence, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
- Mood
- harrowing
- poignant
- resilient
- tense
- Tone
- unflinching
- earnest
- inspirational
- moving
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- childhood survival · forced migration · loss of innocence · resilience in adversity · the refugee experience
- The writing
- Direct and unflinching, capturing the authentic, grounded voice of a young boy navigating unimaginable circumstances.
- The arc
- Moves from the agonizing heartbreak of abandonment in a dangerous world to an inspiring testament of youthful resilience and survival.
- Who it's for
- Readers drawn to deeply moving, true-to-life narratives about the immigrant experience and the indomitable spirit of youth.
Content notes
- child abandonment
- refugee struggles
- political danger
- childhood trauma
About the book
An unflinching, inspirational, and incredibly moving novel based on the true story of Enaiatollah Akbari, a young boy whose agonizing struggle begins after his native Afghanistan becomes a dangerous place to live. His mother shepherds him across the border into Pakistan but has to leave him there to fend for himself.
Description from Open Library.
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