Torch - by Lyn Miller-Lachmann (Hardcover)

About the Book

"When 17-year-old Pavol fatally sets himself on fire in Prague in 1969 to protest the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, his three best friends must figure out how to survive an oppressive regime without him"--

Book Synopsis

Three teens struggle to carve out futures for themselves under a totalitarian regime.

Czechoslovakia, 1969

Seventeen-year-old Pavol has watched his country's freedoms disappear in the wake of the Soviet Union's invasion. He's seen his own dreams disappear too. In a desperate, fatal act of protest against the oppressive new government, he sets himself on fire in public, hoping to motivate others to fight for change.

Instead, Pavol's death launches a government investigation into three of his closest friends. Stěpán finds his Olympic hockey ambitions jeopardized and must conceal his sexual orientation from authorities who could use it against him. Tomás has already been accused of "antisocial" behavior because he struggles to follow the unwritten rules of everyday interactions, and now he must work even harder to meet the expectations of his father, the regional leader of the communist party. And aspiring film director Lída, Pavol's girlfriend, is pregnant with his child, which brands her a traitor by association and upends all her plans.

With their futures hanging in the balance, all three must decide whether to keep struggling to survive in the country Pavol died hoping to save . . . or risk a perilous escape to the other side.

Review Quotes

"[A] story full of adventure, friendship, and feelings as time passes. The story is full of compelling characters that the reader can't help but root for, as well as writing that builds a palpable atmosphere."--Children's Literature

-- (3/7/2023 12:00:00 AM)

"[O]utstanding...I was swept away." --Carly Heath, author of The Reckless Kind

-- (5/1/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"[T]his story of revolutionary hope confronts dehumanizing forces through its resilient characters' deeply held friendships. An astonishing and gripping read." -- starred, Booklist

-- (12/1/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"A masterful, taut, and emotionally rich historical novel that is heartrending and essential reading for our present political climate."--starred, School Library Journal

-- (1/1/2023 12:00:00 AM)

"Equally terrifying and captivating."--starred, Kirkus Reviews

-- (8/15/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"Frighteningly relevant in today's world." --Padma Venkatraman, author of The Bridge Home and Born Behind Bars

-- (5/1/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"I was immediately hooked and couldn't put this down." --Kip Wilson, author of White Rose and The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin

-- (5/1/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"Miller-Lachmann deftly balances moments of happiness and hope within an ominously rendered narrative marked by fear and potential catastrophe. This captivating political thriller is perfect for Ruta Sepetys fans." -- starred, Publishers Weekly

-- (10/28/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"A bold and uncompromising portrayal of life under an authoritarian regime, Lyn Miller-Lachman's Torch combines nuanced characters and a compelling narrative into a powerful story about survival, humanity, and hope."-G. D. Falksen, award-winning author of The Secret Life of Kitty Granger, Maiden of War, and The Ouroboros Cycle

-- (10/31/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"Lyn Miller-Lachmann's Torch manages to accomplish the nearly impossible--a novel that is not only intensively researched and informative, but also riveting and deeply heartfelt. Readers will learn and care in equal measure."--Cynthia Levinson, author of the Robert J. Sibert Medal-winning The People's Painter: How Ben Shahn Fought for Justice with Art

-- (5/1/2022 12:00:00 AM)