The young road
Antonio Albanese
La strada giovane
Feltrinelli
Synopsis
Nino, a young Sicilian baker, is captured after September 8th. He didn't understand much of the armistice, believing the Germans would send him home to his family in the Madonie mountains. Instead, that train took him to a prisoner-of-war camp in Austria, where he suffered hunger, cold, and fear. Nino is an IMI, a military internee, without even the rights of a prisoner. He finds some comfort in his friendship with Lorenzo, a cultured and easy-going young Tuscan who works with him in the kitchens run by Piemontese, a gigantic butcher. Together, the three seize the opportunity of the turmoil of the New Year's Eve celebrations of 1944 to escape. But outside, the cold, hunger, and fear are no less gnawing: finding your way is not easy, finding food and shelter is a feat, and the people are terrified and fierce. Sicily seems unattainable, and Nino leaves behind, kilometer after kilometer, his innocence and youth. Yet, sustaining him on his endless journey through Nazi-occupied territories, where partisan bands fight and bombings continue, and then through the devastation of a South ravaged by the Allied advance, are the memories of beauty and the warmth of love. As he feeds on the red snails that emerge from the ground after the rain, his memories also emerge: the feast of the Saint on August 15th, the scent of butter and vanilla from his father's cookies, the taste of stewed babaluci, the thrill of the Targa Florio, the famous car race. And the warmth of the kisses of Maria Assunta, who, perhaps, is still waiting for him and whom he longs to embrace again at all costs.
Reviews
Letizia Paruzza
De Amicis High School of Cuneo, 3G
I really enjoyed the novel "La strada giovane" by A. Albanese! I found it very easy to read, as the book's structure is very linear. As for the story, I found it compelling and fluid, and I particularly appreciated Lorenzo's role.
Caterina Busso
De Amicis High School of Cuneo, 3G
Antonio Albanese's "La Strada Giovane" explores the theme of partisan escape from a concentration camp. While it's a topic I'm interested in, I found it difficult to read, as I don't enjoy reading. The book is intense but requires a great deal of attention. For those who enjoy reading, it's a work worth tackling for its depth.
Valentina Bracco
De Amicis High School of Cuneo, 2C
The Young Road is a simple and enjoyable book that tells the story of Nino, who lives in a difficult period marked by war. During his journey, he faces fear, hunger, and sacrifice. It's a smooth read. It's a novel that leaves a beautiful message and is a pleasure to read.
Cecilia Damiano, Alessandro Migliore
De Amicis High School of Cuneo, 3B
In our opinion, Antonio Albanese's La strada giovane is a book that strikes us above all for its simplicity. It's not a novel full of twists and turns or complicated descriptions, but for this very reason it seemed so real to us. Nino's story made us reflect on what it means to be our age during a time like war: today we worry about tests, relationships, and the future, while he had to think about surviving and returning home. We were deeply struck by the theme of the journey, which is not only physical but also about growth. In a certain sense, we saw ourselves in the title: we too are on a "young road," trying to understand who we are and where we want to go, even if in a totally different and much safer context. Perhaps at times we would have liked more in-depth exploration of the characters and emotions, because some parts flow very quickly. However, this simple writing makes for a smooth and accessible read, and we believe it's a book that will speak well to young people our age. Overall we found it a short but significant novel, which made us stop for a moment to think about how lucky we are and how the desire for "home" and freedom is something universal.
partner
in collaboration with
with the support of
