Vaclav & Lena - Haley Tanner

Vaclav & Lena, the children of Russian emigrés, find comfort in their common origins, camaraderie in their attempts to navigate the English language, and purpose in their ambition to create a magic act in Brighton Beach. Then Lena disappears—and it’s not an act. The path to solving the mystery of Lena’s whereabouts will make you laugh and cry as Vaclav grows older and eventually uncovers the hidden truths behind the scenes of his friendship with Lena. Haley Tanner perfectly captures the wonder and possibilities of an imaginative childhood, one complicated by the incomprehensible, protective, and sometimes cruel behavior of adults.