The Day Before Happiness

This is a postwar story about a boy deprived of almost everything by the war, by family, and by an indifferent child welfare system. The boy still manages to read everything he can get his hands on, thanks to a used bookseller who takes an interest in him. The bond between the boy and another guardian is so moving, and so real, because he shares all he has with the boy. In those times of destruction and disconnection, the old man makes sure the boy has what he needs for his journey out of Italy. This short, affecting book is worth the time.