The Afterlife of Stars

In telling the story of two brothers fleeing Hungary with their family, Kertes (Gratitude) focuses more on their emotional and intellectual journey than on the actual events unfolding around them. Nine-year old Robert and 13-year-old Attila are forced to flee as Russian forces move into Budapest in 1956 to crush the Hungarian revolution. Their Jewish family hopes to make it to Paris where their great-aunt Hermina lives. During their dangerous trek, the boys ponder the world around them. As the brothers and their family deal with death and the revealing of family secrets, they are brought together and torn apart until they are ultimately broken by tragedy. Though this book has a very interesting story line, it is often overwhelmed by the brothers' thoughts and musings, the deep philosophical nature of which seem rather unrealistic coming from two young boys. The story has great potential, but lacks the historical substance that might have helped balance and ground the philosophical ponderings. Agent: Jackie Kaiser, Westwood Creative Artists. (Sept.)