TILTED SKY

A young boy in China seeks a place to call home in this title translated from Chinese.

Eleven-year-old Bai Jian yearns for a simple, quiet home life like his classmates have. His mother left when he was an infant, and ever since the death of his grandmother, it’s just been Bai Jian, his father, and the string of girlfriends his father abuses. Despite being “utterly broke,” Bai Jian’s father, who wants to pursue his own interests, enrolls his son in a boarding school. Although this change in schools kicks off the plot, much of the narrative revolves around Bai Jian’s interactions and relationships with grown-ups and his ruminations on their lives and actions. On weekends and during school holidays, Bai Jian bounces among his father, his father’s kind ex who’s a sort of mother figure, and his own mother, who makes a reappearance. There are moments of care but also many moments of disappointment as the adults prioritize themselves. Pulled in different directions, Bai Jian’s not sure who, if anyone, is best for him—or at least, better than the others. The boy’s observations and thoughts have a youthful reasoning to them, yet at times his voice sounds more mature than his age. This introspective novel explores topics such as poverty, alcoholism, homelessness, neglect, and domestic violence; because the book is light on context, younger readers may benefit from discussing these themes with adults.

Intimate and introspective.