For some reason, I thought this was a fantasy book, but it most definitely is not. It is very firmly historical fiction, set during the Soviet occupation of the Czech Republic in 1969. It's set a bit earlier and in a different country, but it reminded me a lot of [book:I Must Betray You|56970272], about teens trying to escape a totalitarian regime. 

We get three points of view in this book, from teens who found out their friend Pavol set himself on fire in protest of against the new government. This book is not an easy one to read, but I feel like we rarely get historical fiction set during this time period. Sure, we get a lot of WWII books (especially in YA), but not many that look at this time after the war. 

The three voices of the characteres are distinct, and they each give us a different point of view of their situation. By the end, it reads a bit like a thriller, and you'll be on the edge of your seat as you hope that these teens can make it to safety.

Overall, the writing is engaging and I highly recommend checking out