Liza is 12, and she loves her dad very much. She loves her whole family, and they love her, but Dad is her best friend and her most reliable support. And then, out of the blue, like a bolt from the blue, her father is sent to prison. Absolutely nothing hinted that this homebody, non-confrontational man would ever end up there, yet it happened. Liza is crushed by grief... Who will comfort her now when her classmates pick on her? With whom will she discuss books and watch MTV at night? Who will turn any trouble into a lighthearted joke? It feels as if a hole has formed in her chest, and the wind is howling inside it... That things will never be okay again. That while he is there, you have no right here not just to live your life as before, like celebrating a birthday, but even to simply smile.
If a child is going through unpleasant events right now, this book will provide support, showing that although life sometimes presents terrible surprises, it still goes on, and one can find outlets in it. But this book is not only for those who are struggling—it is for everyone, because it teaches empathy and prepares readers for various life scenarios. It is about how important it is to be kinder to others, for we do not know what burdens people carry while remaining calm on the outside. It is about the fact that our world is not black and white, and it is not just hardened villains who sit in prison. And, of course, about the old saying that one should never say never.
This story does not end on a confidently triumphant note, but as it progresses toward the finale, it becomes brighter and brighter. The protagonist learns to live under new circumstances, finds new points of support, grows up, becomes wiser, and finds some peace.
"Where's Dad?" by Yulia Kuznetsova is for middle and high school age.
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