Io non ho paura / I’m not scared
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Autor:
Niccolò Ammaniti
Country:
Italy (IT)
Book Theme:
From book to video
Publisher:
Einaudi
Publishing Year:
2011
Niccolò Ammaniti is an Italian writer, director and screenwriter, born in Rome on 25 September 1966. After abandoning his studies in Biological Sciences, he dedicated himself to writing. His debut was with Granchie (1994). He is known for his raw style and textures that mix grotesque and realism. In 2007 he won the Strega Prize with the novel As God Commands.
National Award for Children’s and Young People’s
Abstract
It was the torrid summer of 1978 in Acqua Traverse, a remote village in Southern Italy. The protagonist is Michele Amitrano, a nine-year-old boy who, during a game with his gang of friends, makes a chilling discovery: another child, Filippo Carducci, victim of a kidnapping, is segregated in a hole hidden in an abandoned house. Initially terrified, Michele decides not to reveal the secret. He soon discovers that his parents and the inhabitants of the town are also part of the gang of kidnappers, led by a shady individual from Rome. Michele’s childish carefreeness vanishes in the face of brutal reality. Despite the threats, the child feels a strong sense of responsibility towards Philip, nourishes him and comforts him. When he discovers that the kidnapped child’s life is in danger, Michele decides to act alone, in an act of pure courage and friendship. In a desperate night search, Michele manages to save Filippo, but is wounded by a rifle shot accidentally fired by his father. The novel is an intense coming-of-age story about the conflict between childhood innocence and the horror of the adult world, between fear and morality.
