Close to the Wind

In this crisply plotted, somber, and suspenseful displacement novel we follow young Malik as he escapes from an unnamed wartorn European (it seems) country and arrives in the New World. In part one, Malik’s grandfather, Papa, uses all the means at his disposal -- connections, bribery, threats, lies, and his skill as a conjurer -- to get Malik a place on a refugee ship. The tension here resides in the fact that Malik is too young to understand the machinations undertaken to effect his escape. In part two, Malik is on his own, growing up quickly in the company of older boys on the ship, losing his trusting innocence, learning survival skills; and calling on his own canniness, his ability to manipulate his tragic circumstances, and a magic trick (the French drop) that he learned from Papa. In the final section, on this side of the Atlantic, there is resolution as Malik is adopted by a kindly foster mother. But now that he is safe, Malik falls apart emotionally. Walter tells this story plainly, with restraint. Even though the setting is not explicit, the accumulation of small, concrete details in each scene sustains the tension. He hides his plot twists in plain sight, distracting us like the conjurers that are his characters. The moving denouement is fully earned. sarah ellis

Young Malik escapes from an unnamed war-torn country and grows up quickly in the company of older boys on the refugee ship. Once Malik arrives in the New World, he is adopted--but now that he is safe, Malik falls apart emotionally. Walter tells this suspenseful displacement story with restraint, the accumulation of small, concrete details in each scene sustaining tension.