Chrstine Dwyer Hickey writes about a difficult and sensitive subject in The Narrow Land. Michael is a young German boy who has been adopted by an American couple after being orphaned in Germany during the second world war. His adoptive parents suffered the loss of their son before adopting Michael and clearly struggle with the trauma he suffers as a result of his wartime experiences. Michael spends the summer with the woman who was involved with the organisation arranging adoptions for the children coming from Europe. He stays with her and her family during the summer as company for her grandson who is around the same age as Michael. The author introduces their neighbours, an older couple who have their own story to tell. This was an extremely well-written book with a very interesting collection of characters.