First published 1957
Cobbler's apprentice Pin is a child of WWII Italy, living with his prostitute sister and whiling away time in a seedy bar. But when a mishap with a Nazi soldier thrusts him into the partisan resistance, Pin must navigate a dangerous world of intrigue and violence. Through his eyes, Calvino offers a vivid, imaginative portrait of wartime Italy and the bittersweet transition to adulthood.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, war, adventure
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: coming-of-age, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Italy
Period: World War II
185 pages · Paperback · Ecco
Content warnings: violence