By Anna Desnitskaya
Translated by Lena Traer
Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, September, 2023
Mom's Review
This actually gave me goosebumps.
Imagine if you could use Morse Code to send a trans-Pacific flashlight message from Kamchatka to Chile? In this reversible book, that's exactly what happens. (It's reversible in that you read to the middle, then flip the whole book over and read to middle again, where the two storylines intersect.) Mirroring each other, a girl from Kamchatka and a boy from Chile each share with the reader their favorite things, their homes, and their wish for friends. The connection between the two children, half a world apart, is palpable as they ponder the possibility of a friend beyond the edge of their respective worlds. The lives of these two children will resonate with introverts, socially awkward and shy persons, outsiders, newcomers - anyone who has longed for companionship but struggled to connect. We feel the kids' trials and hope and joy - this story literally shines light on our connections.
On the Edge of the World reverberates with the universal experience of loneliness and prompts the reader to contemplate what ties us to others. Reading this against the backdrop of Putin's war drives home the need for global connection and the truth that children's dreams are not limited by political borders.
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