Eleven-year-old Djata makes sure he is always home on Sundays. It is the day the State Security came to take his father away, and he believes it will be the day he finally returns. In the meantime, Djata lives a life of adventure, playing war games in flaming wheatfields and watching porn in the back room at the cinema. But lurking beneath his rebel boyhood, pulling at his heartstrings, is the continued absence of his father. When Djata finally uncovers the harrowing truth, he risks losing his childhood forever. "Superb ...intense ...a poignant and big-hearted book". (Sunday Telegraph). "A superb novel about childhood, schooldays and gang fights ...". (Guardian). "A most impressive debut". (Independent).

Translated by: Paul Olchvary