A NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: THE GUARDIAN * LIBRARY JOURNAL

Steeped in a rich heritage of bewitching Albanian myth and legend, Crossing is a deeply timely and deeply necessary novel about war, exile, and identity in all its complex permutations.

After the death of his father, a young boy named Bujar grows up in the ruins of Communist Albania and of his own family. Only his fearless best friend, Agim-who is facing realizations about his gender and sexuality-gives him hope for the future. Together the two decide to leave everything behind and try their luck in Italy. But the struggle to feel at home-in a foreign country and even in one’s own body-will have corrosive effects, spurring a dangerous search for new identities.

Award-winning author Pajtim Statovci has crafted a stunning, incandescent new novel about love, betrayal, heartbreak, and the human need to be seen.