Synopsis:

Romania, 1989. Communist regimes are crumbling across Europe. Seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu dreams of becoming a writer, but Romanians aren’t free to dream; they are bound by rules and force.

Amidst the tyrannical dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu in a country governed by isolation and fear, Cristian is blackmailed by the secret police to become an informer. He’s left with only two choices: betray everyone and everything he loves—or use his position to creatively undermine the most notoriously evil dictator in Eastern Europe.

Cristian risks everything to unmask the truth behind the regime, give voice to fellow Romanians, and expose to the world what is happening in his country. He eagerly joins the revolution to fight for change when the time arrives. But what is the cost of freedom?

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What To Expect:

This YA historical fiction revolves around the Romanian Revolution and what Romanians went through during this tumultuous time in history.

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Content Warnings:

Language: A few uses of cursing

Sexual Content: Closed door – Brief kisses

Violence: Heavy – Injuries, torture, death, murder, sexual assault, mass shootings, police brutality, animal cruelty, abuse of all kinds

Substance Use: Mild – Alcohol use

Prejudices: Heavy – Antisemitism, xenophobia, communist prejudices, classism, sexism

Religious Themes: A few mentions of prayer and religious practices, including the suppression of Christianity under communist rule

Other Topics: Moderate – Cancer/terminal illness, child death, loss of loved ones

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