The Lost Prince

This exciting and emotional story is as relevant now as it was when it was published in 1915. Foreshadowing the Russian Revolution by a mere three years, this story tells the tale of a long-ago coup that left the (fictional) Eastern European country of Samavia in a bitter civil war for five centuries and its rightful rulers in hiding. (With the Ukrainian war raging at the time of this review, it seems very timely, indeed.) While the warring factions seek to maintain their stranglehold on the tiny nation, one man toils in anonymity to bring his homeland to a lasting peace, while raising his only son to someday follow in his footsteps. Despite their uncertain lives, moving all around Europe and living in poverty, Marco demonstrates great resilience and understanding beyond his years. While living in London, Marco befriends a boy whose crippled body contains the mind of a genius who goes by the nickname of "The Rat". As their friendship grows, the boys devise a game where they pretend to be Samavian resistance fighters, which showcases Rat's razor sharp mind and tactical prowess and Marco's natural leadership and ability to inspire loyalty and obedience. Their game draws the attention of Marco's father, who mentors his son's friend to help him develop his skills, as Marco has developed his own. After the death of Rat's abusive alcoholic father, Rat comes to stay with Marco's little family and becomes more than just a friend as he is brought into the families' confidence, because now, their pretending is no longer just a game. As Samavia bleeds, the boys must prepare themselves for a real-life mission that could end the war... or possibly their own lives.

I love this book. It is by any chance a movie yet?

Fabulous