You Survived?

Francisco Sánchez Loiro, "Moni" to his friends, is having problems at school. The teachers find him aggressive, and he keeps being called into the director's office. He is studying Hostelry and Tourism and has had to repeat the second year of vocational training. It's not that he's not talented, he just can't be bothered to apply himself. He also likes to swear a lot. The only time he feels well is when he is with his best friend, Tito, or with his podencos, the warren hounds Tito and he breed. His dream is to have one of his dogs recognized by the Andalusian Podenco Club. It is six years since his mother died of breast cancer, and the family unit - his father; his older sister, Marianxo - has suffered as a result. The question is, will he go off the rails, become a drug addict like so many of those around him, or will he manage to keep his dignity intact, to control his temper? Life is a role-playing game, filled with obstacles and opportunities. The important thing is to focus our energies on the right objective.

Fina Casalderrey is one of Galicia's most successful writers. She has been Spain's candidate for both the Hans Christian Andersen and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Awards. This is her fifth title in English.