Small Country

Small Country is a remarkable story about growing up in a time of turmoil. The novel follows Gabriel, a young boy living in Burundi. Boyish mischief and the humdrum everyday tasks of youth fill his days. However, in the blink of an eye, the cruelty of war upends his life. The novel perfectly portrays the destructive nature of war from the perspective of youthful naivety and innocence. It also brilliantly captures the heart-breaking pain of losing friends, family, places of belonging and childhood to war. Gaël Faye’s debut novel gives intimate insight into the Rwandan and Burundian civil wars, making it a challenging yet memorable read.