This is the story of a hero.

Ten-year-old Robert knows many things. He knows all about his hometown, Geneva, with its statues and cannons and underground tunnels and the Longest Bench in the World. He knows about the Red Cross and all the places his dad has been on his missions. He knows that his mum is writing a book about vampires and how long his older brother spends practicing his 'swag' poses in front of the mirror. He knows all about animals, too, because his Auntie Delphia is a vet in Zimbabwe.

But still he has questions. Is his neighbour, Monsieur Renoir, really evil? Why did he leave a Victoria Cross medal on Robert's doorstep? And why has Auntie Delphia disappeared? In the 'Peace and Conflict' unit in school, Robert learned all about wars and heroes. But as the lives of his friends, foes and family unfold, he discovers what it really means to be a hero . . .

This is the story of a young boy's adventures as he takes it upon himself to solve the mystery of an 'evil' old neighbour in Geneva, and a missing auntie in Zimbabwe. Charming, funny and resonant, this is a novel about how one boy comes to understand what conflict can do to a person, a family, a whole country - and what it means to fight for peace.

About the Author
Irene Sabatini was born in Zimbabwe. Her first novel, The Boy Next Door, won the Orange Award for New Writers in 2010. She has lived in Zimbabwe, Colombia, the Carribbean and London. She currently lives in Geneva with her husband and two sons.

Reviews
Irene Sabatini is a born writer. * Daily Mail *
[Irene Sabatini] has produced another fictional dynamo, 10-year-old Roberto, who narrates with such charm it's hard not to fall in love with him . . . This is a wonderfully enjoyable and heart-warming novel with intergenerational appeal. -- Bernadine Evaristo * Guardian *
One of the most engaging novels about inter-racial love to be published this century ... entertaining, ambitious and packed with news from elsewhere, leavened by the precious optimism of youth. Don't miss it. -- Amanda Craig * Independent *
One of Zimbabwe's most interesting writers . . . Peace and Conflict is funny and touching. * Pride Magazine *
Peace and Conflict is a delight from start to finish ... A fantastic read for those who like a good mystery and learning about other cultures. * We Love This Book *
Robert is a charming narrator, and the novel generates a complex lens from the childlike proximity of small, mundane things and the distant horrors of Mugabe's dictatorship, which do not leave the family untouched. * the Sydney Morning Herald *
Sabatini has written a complex and engrossing novel, which challenges many assumptions we make around truth, courage and responsibility. * Booktrust *



Book Information
ISBN 9781472114167
Author Irene Sabatini
Format Paperback
Page Count 368
Imprint Corsair
Publisher Little, Brown Book Group
Weight(grams) 296g
Dimensions(mm) 197mm * 132mm * 30mm