Nina Dashevskaya’s new book is a collection of miniature journeys into the world of teenagers—complex, often withdrawn, and sometimes behaving absurdly. These stories are a chance to peek into their world and see the city through their eyes. The protagonists of Nina Dashevskaya’s stories escape the world imposed upon them by adults, retreating into one they are just beginning to invent.
“Where have you been wandering?” adults ask them. Dashevskaya’s characters truly do wander—through their own cities and others, through forests and along the seaside. In summer, winter, and the off-season. They think with their feet, and a roundabout journey from school to home helps them understand many things. They are surprised by unexpected details and ask strange questions: “Do ants know we are watching them?”; “Are there rafters on the 18th line?” They are open, they notice everything: look, that girl has an entire city embroidered on her coat, and that massive man has such a tiny dog. And silly hats simply delight them.
They often have a hard time. Studying, getting along with parents, fitting into someone else's rules, conforming. And sometimes it's hard to breathe. Their only hope is that one day they will be able to start the mill that will clear the air, and everyone will finally be able to breathe freely.
Author: Nina Dashevskaya
Pages: 128 (offset). Softcover
Dimensions: 140x197 mm
