Young Kiki's father is a doctor who volunteers his skills where he is most needed, which happens to be in a faraway war zone as the novel begins. As Kiki frets that he may not return, her mother tries to comfort her by explaining that the odds of having a father are big, whereas the odds of not having a father are small so that she wouldn't worry so much about the possibility of not having a father. When Kiki asks if a person can make the odds of something happening smaller or bigger, her mother responds that sometimes they can. Rather than finding comfort in this knowledge, Kiki takes her mother's words literally and endeavors to figure out how to decrease the odds of her father not returning. After her father goes missing in the war-torn country where he was working, Kiki becomes increasingly desperate in her attempts to lower the odds of him never returning.
The author's straightforward treatment of difficult issues in this book struck me as unique and unusual. All throughout, Kiki's voice maintains a frank childlike innocence, which forms a darkly humorous contrast to the serious emotional issues with which she is grappling. Hof doesn't shy away from confronting the disturbing thoughts that children often have when faced with uncertain, confusing or overwhelming emotions and situations. Instead, she addresses them in a frank, straightforward manner that allows readers the space to empathize with the complex emotions of the young narrator. And even though the story ends on a positive note, the ending is bittersweet and the future full of uncertainty, reflecting the reality of the situation.
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Top reviews from other countries
asha j
Poignancy packaged in practical terms
Reviewed in India on December 13, 2017