Jutta Richter Hechtsommer The Summer of the Pike Carl Hanser Verlag, Illustrations by Quint Buchholz, Autumn 2004, 125pp. ISBN 3-446-20518-7 Anna is an only child who lives in the grounds of a fine-looking castle, complete with its moat and set in verdant farming country. Her best friends are Daniel, born just a few months after her, and his younger brother Lucas. Anna lives with her fiery-haired and vivacious mother, the boys close by with their parents, Gisela and Peter. While the three children don’t mix with the owners of the castle they revel in its outdoor world – cycling through the woodlands with their parents, gazing into the waters of the moat and pond, studying the life of forest and field – an idyllic existence for children growing up. Then suddenly, tragically, everything changes. Gisela, the boys’ mother, is found to have terminal cancer. It will have taken her from them by the time the summer draws to a close. The story, which Anna narrates, takes place during those hot months. The boys develop a passion for fishing, of which Anna disapproves. She doesn’t believe Daniel’s claim that fish feel no pain, and when he becomes almost obsessed with the idea of catching the enormous pike which preys on the smaller fish they have a serious falling out. Gradually, however, she realises that this pursuit is a defence mechanism for Daniel and his chirpy little brother. While they are fishing they can forget about everything else, and through Gisela’s gentle guidance as she gazes from her sick room window Anna accepts this and joins them in their pursuit. For Daniel the fish has taken on a major significance: if I can catch that pike, he tells himself, my mother will get well. He catches the pike, his mother does not get well. In the final paragraph the boys are clutched in their father’s embrace, sharing their grief, while the pike lies forgotten in the dust. This is a tale full of wonderfully touching moments, sharp personal insights into how children feel, and glorious natural descriptions. Beauty in the midst of pain, an unforgettable combination.