First published 2016
Forced to flee their previous home, a curious child named David and his guardians Simon and Ines resettle in the city of Estrella. As David turns seven, he's enrolled at the Academy of Dance, where he learns to "call down the numbers from the sky." But his newfound talents reveal unsettling truths about the adults around him. In this allegorical tale, Coetzee explores the complexities of parenthood, the clash of intellect and emotion, and how we navigate the journey of growing up.
Genres: coming-of-age, 21st-century, academic
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Estrella
Period: 21st-century
260 pages · Paperback · RANDOM HOUSE