The Last Brother

The Last Brother is a powerful, poetic novel that sheds new light on a little-explored aspect of 20th-century history- Vichy French-occupied Madagascar. Translated from the French, this novel is set in a Madagascar oblivious to the rest of the world.

For while young Raj lives in imagined spaces in the thick of the deep forests that adorn the island, World War II rages on elsewhere, tearing the world apart. Raj, trying to escape from memories of his dead brothers, has only his mother for company as dad is working, and thus lays himself open to potential friends. He is lonely and awkward and largely left alone until the outside world comes crashing into Madagascar with the arrival of David, the son of exiled Jews looking for refuge. Exiled from his home in Europe and imprisoned in the camp where Raj's father works, David becomes the friend that he has always longed for, a brother to replace those he has lost.

Raj knows that he must help David to escape. As they flee through sub-tropical landscapes and devastating storms, the boys battle hunger and malaria- and forge a friendship only death can destroy.