Welcome to Litsy!

Ilya, a Russian teen who is an excellent English student, wins an opportunity to go to a town in Louisiana as part of an exchange program.This would have been a dream come true for him if his older brother Vladimir had not been arrested and charged with murdering 3 women right before he is due to leave. This book has an awesome sense of place, especially Russia, and a beautiful exploration of the relationship between brothers.

MY RATING⇢ 4 STARS | GRADE B+
FEATURING⇢
Russian Exchange Student in America
A Coming of Age Story
Murder Mystery
The Anguish of Addiction

Ultimately, this packs more of a literary punch than action-packed punch, with themes of familial bonds, addiction, and dreaming of something better, this is overall, a genuinely heartfelt story and one that is not to be missed.

A book that I was able to finish recently. It was interesting in some of its personal parallels. A boy that took an exam to come to the US from Russia as an exchange student, due to his brilliance with languages. A wrongful accusation. A struggle for the truth. And a struggle for understanding. Poignant, emotionally charged, and well written. It will stay with me for some time. 4.5/5 #recentlyread #nospoilers

There‘s plenty he‘s done to be ashamed of. And there were so many ways that his plan could have gone wrong. So many ways. When I think of them, I‘m so scared that I can‘t breathe. But then I remember why he did this - so that I could be here 🏢💉❄️🇷🇺

When Ilya arrives in America for a hard earned year as an exchange student it should be a dream come true. Instead all he can think about is the brother he left behind in Russia who has just been arrested for murder. This was a perfect fect readathon choice because it was unputdownable. Tragic yet still hopeful, this book details Ilya‘s life before America as well as how he tries to set his brother free. #24in28

It‘s always a good day when it involves a trip to the bookstore! 📚💕

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for an Advanced Reader‘s Copy of this book. This book is Ilya a HS student from Russia who get the opportunity to go the United States in an exchange program. This story follows two timelines, the present and the past in Russia and the events that lead up to Ilya deciding to come to America. This book is about family, love and loyalty. This one will give you all the feels throughout. I really loved this one,.

This book is expected to come out in April of 2019 and I have never been more glad to have gotten my hands on this arc. I think this one will be on a lot of lists. Ilya is in pain when he arrives in Louisiana from his native Russia. Told in flashbacks, the reader follows the mystery that bounds his brother to drugs, poverty and addiction. Beautiful, painful and honest—this book explores what it means to love someone that does not love them self.