Vaclav & Lena

I just finished Vaclav & Lena while vacationing in Michigan and it is one of those books I hated to put down. This debut novel by the talented Haley Tanner tells the story of a Russian family living in Brooklyn: 10-year-old Vaclav, his overprotective mother, his father (who drinks his weight in vodka on a daily basis), and Lena, a neighbor who has stolen Vaclav’s heart.

Vaclav and Lena are classmates who spend each afternoon at Vaclav’s home completing their homework assignments, eating dinner, and most importantly, practicing their magic act. Yes, Vaclav’s dream is to be a famous magician (how he admires David Copperfield and Houdini!) and he envisions Lena as the lovely assistant, always by his side.

But Lena’s home life is deplorable. An orphan, she lives with her aunt, an exotic dancer who has no time to care for a child (and doesn’t really want one around). With a profession like this, the reader can only imagine all of the unsavory elements Lena is exposed to. Vaclav’s mother, Rasia, realizes the tragedy of Lena’s situation and does what she can to make sure the girl is provided for and protected. But one afternoon, Rasia makes a shocking discovery, and because of her good intentions, Lena disappears from Vaclav’s life.

With each passing year, Vaclav (who’s still practicing magic) continues to hold out hope that he will be reunited with Lena. Will that reunion ever happen? Pick up a copy of this sweet and heartbreaking novel to find out for yourself. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.