It is 1944, and war has taken the men in Nazi-controlled Austria to the front line. For thirteen-year-old Ursula Hildesheim life in the village of Felddorf remains almost as it was: outcast at school, idly thieving, enlisted in endless chores by her mama and sister, and running wild with her adored older brother Anton.

But then Russian prisoners escape from the local concentration camp, her mama starts an affair with a married man, her disabled friend disappears, and her brother’s allegiance to the Hitler Youth emerges in shocking ways. Ursula finds herself alone, disturbed by dark memories, and surrounded by threat.

My Own Dear Brother shows us a world of conflict in a microcosm, expertly capturing human capacity for both cruelty and courage with breathtaking precision. A haunting and unforgettable coming-of-age story, rich in folklore and period detail, it introduces a daring young heroine, and a powerful new literary voice.