Italian literary superstar Niccol Ammaniti's debut novel, I'm Not
Scared, prompted gushing praise, hit international bestseller lists,
and was made into a smash indie film. With his highly anticipated
follow-up, Ammaniti takes his unparalleled empathy for children, his
scythe-sharp observations, and his knack for building tension to a whole
new level.
In a tiny Italian village, a young boy named Pietro is growing up
tormented by bullies and ignored by his parents. When an aging playboy,
Graziano Biglia, returns to town, a change is in the air: Pietro decides
to take on the bullies, his lonely teacher, Flora, finds romance with
the town's prodigal son, and the inept janitor at the school proclaims
his love for his favorite prostitute. But the village isn't ready for
such change, and when Graziano seduces and forgets Flora, both she and
Pietro's tentative hopes seem crushed forever.
With great tenderness, Ammaniti shines light on the heart-wrenching
failures and quiet redemptions of ordinary people trying to live
extraordinary lives. I'll Steal You Away is a fresh and classic story
of a boy learning to be a man that delivers on the promise of Ammaniti's
acclaimed debut.
