Russia in 1938 is a place of great terror. Joseph Stalin is in charge.
His Secret Police are everywhere, searching for anyone who might be his
enemy. People have no idea who they can trust.
Seven-year-old Shura doesn't know about any of this. He's happy in his
little home in Leningrad going to school in the mornings, playing with
his best friend in the afternoon, fighting with his big sister, spending
time with his Mama, Papa and baby brother Bobka.
**Until one day everything changes.
**
Mama and Papa and Bobka disappear without a trace. The whispers of their
neighbours are that Mama and Papa were spies, enemies of Stalin and so
they have now been taken by something mysterious called The Raven.
Desperate to reunite his family, Shura decides to hunt down The Raven,
finding help in the most unexpected places but facing more danger than
he has ever known . . .