Torch

Three teens struggle to carve out futures for themselves under a totalitarian regime.

Czechoslovakia, 1969

Seventeen-year-old Pavol has watched his country's freedoms disappear in the wake of the Soviet Union's invasion. He's seen his own dreams disappear too. In a desperate, fatal act of protest against the oppressive new government, he sets himself on fire in public, hoping to motivate others to fight for change.

Instead, Pavol's death launches a government investigation into three of his closest friends. Štěpán finds his Olympic hockey ambitions jeopardized and must conceal his sexual orientation from authorities who could use it against him. Tomáš has already been accused of “antisocial” behavior because he struggles to follow the unwritten rules of everyday interactions, and now he must work even harder to meet the expectations of his father, the regional leader of the communist party. And aspiring film director Lída, Pavol’s girlfriend, is pregnant with his child, which brands her a traitor by association and upends all her plans.

With their futures hanging in the balance, all three must decide whether to keep struggling to survive in the country Pavol died hoping to save . . . or risk a perilous escape to the other side.

Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year L.A. Times Book Prize Winner Kirkus Best Teen Books of the Year Booklist Editors' Choice Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Choices Booklist Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth Wisconsin Library Association Outstanding Achievement in Children's Literature Award Notable Books for a Global Society Reading List Junior Library Guild Selection The Undies Case Cover Awards

“"Lyn Miller-Lachmann's Torch manages to accomplish the nearly impossible--a novel that is not only intensively researched and informative, but also riveting and deeply heartfelt. Readers will learn and care in equal measure."--Cynthia Levinson, author of the Robert J. Sibert Medal-winning The People's Painter: How Ben Shahn Fought for Justice with Art”

"A masterful, taut, and emotionally rich historical novel that is heartrending and essential reading for our present political climate."—starred, School Library Journal

"[T]his story of revolutionary hope confronts dehumanizing forces through its resilient characters' deeply held friendships. An astonishing and gripping read." — starred, Booklist

"Miller-Lachmann deftly balances moments of happiness and hope within an ominously rendered narrative marked by fear and potential catastrophe. This captivating political thriller is perfect for Ruta Sepetys fans." — starred, Publishers Weekly

"Equally terrifying and captivating."—starred, Kirkus Reviews

"[A] story full of adventure, friendship, and feelings as time passes. The story is full of compelling characters that the reader can't help but root for, as well as writing that builds a palpable atmosphere."—Children's Literature

"A bold and uncompromising portrayal of life under an authoritarian regime, Lyn Miller-Lachman's Torch combines nuanced characters and a compelling narrative into a powerful story about survival, humanity, and hope."-G. D. Falksen, award-winning author of The Secret Life of Kitty Granger, Maiden of War, and The Ouroboros Cycle

"[O]utstanding...I was swept away." —Carly Heath, author of The Reckless Kind

"Lyn Miller-Lachmann's Torch manages to accomplish the nearly impossible—a novel that is not only intensively researched and informative, but also riveting and deeply heartfelt. Readers will learn and care in equal measure."—Cynthia Levinson, author of the Robert J. Sibert Medal-winning The People's Painter: How Ben Shahn Fought for Justice with Art

"I was immediately hooked and couldn't put this down." —Kip Wilson, author of White Rose and The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin

"Frighteningly relevant in today's world." —Padma Venkatraman, author of The Bridge Home and Born Behind Bars

Lyn Miller-Lachmann is an author, educator, and editor. Her novels include Torch, winner of the 2023 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature, Gringolandia, Rogue, Moonwalking, and Eyes Open. She earned a Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a Masters in Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, Lyn enjoys traveling to new places. She lives in New York City and lived part-time in Lisbon, Portugal, for many years.

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