Hollow Chest
HOLLOW CHEST
By Brita Sandstrom
Debut author Brita Sandstrom arrives with a sweeping, unforgettable historical ghost story of the darkness around and inside us, and the courage it takes to keep hope alive.
Charlie has been having nightmares—visions of eyes in the dark, of claws on his chest, holding him down—ever since German bombs rained down on London, taking his father’s life, taking his city’s spirit, taking his beloved brother, Theo, off to WWII in France. But soon, Theo will be home, and even if Charlie’s grandpa Fitz warns him that soldiers sometimes come back missing a piece of themselves, Charlie isn’t worried. Whatever Theo has lost, Charlie will help him find it.
When Theo finally does return, however, he is cold and distant. Their family, like the city itself, feels more broken than ever. And Charlie soon discovers the reason for his brother’s change: war wolves–terrifying ancient beasts who consume the hearts of those broken by grief and loss. If Charlie truly wants to save his brother, he’s going to have to find them.
But can a heart that’s been consumed ever be replaced?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brita Sandstrom is a graduate of Hamline University’s MFA program in writing for children and young adults. Hollow Chest is her first book. She lives with her family and collection of cats in Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can find her online at www.britasandstrom.com.