The Orphan Sky

February 23, 2015
Leya, who grew up in the Communist Soviet Union and later defected to the United States, has written a refreshingly nuanced novel of Russia, complete with wonderful classical and jazz music influences. Fifteen-year-old Leila Badalbeili leads a privileged existence as a Youth Communist Party member in 1979 Baku, the capital of Soviet Azerbaijan. Her manipulative leader, Comrade Farhad, assigns her to spy on a music shop owned by a suspected American plant. Meantime, her redoubtable music teacher, Professor Sultan-zade, stresses that Leila's prodigious talent for playing the piano should remain her first priority. The music shop owner, Tahir Mukhtarov, denies he's a secret agent but introduces Leila to so-called decadent Western society while exposing the hypocrisy and corruption underlying her beloved Communist ideals. She falls in love with Tahir, her "Aladdin," as the safe, idyllic world of her parents crumbles away and she is forced to grow up in order to survive in "the kingdom of crooked mirrors." The author deftly captures the paranoia and isolation of Red Russia. Leya's immersive novel speaks with authenticity and should entertain fans of smart Cold War espionage fiction. Agent: Jeff Kleinman, Folio Literary Management.

November 1, 2014

Growing up in Azerbaijan, 15-year-old Leila has experienced a life steeped in communism, from her grandfather's role as a Red Commissar to being a member of the Youth League of the Communist Party. When Leila is approached by the charming and attractive Comrade Farhad, she is eager to prove her worth by accepting his challenge to spy on the owner of a music store. Leila is also a renowned pianist with dreams of representing Azerbaijan in international competition. But the task becomes complicated when she is swept away by both melodies of foreign music and the mysterious anticommunist owner, Tahir. The stories and sounds place our protagonist in a tangled web of conflicted emotions, torn between her growing feelings for Tahir and her faltering confidence in the government. In addition, Leila is facing pressure to marry by family members trying to contain their own demons. VERDICT The author's background in music and understanding of life in late 1970s Azerbaijan is evident in this debut novel. The vivid details of the setting and music will engage readers who otherwise might not have knowledge of the country and its history at the crossroads between Europe and Asia. A strong choice for readers of historical fiction who are deeply interested in the Middle East and musical detail.--Madeline Dahlman, Deerfield P.L., IL

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2014
In the city of Baku in Soviet Azerbaijan, in 1979, 15-year-old Leila is a true believer in the Communist philosophy. Her oil-engineer father and her surgeon mother are Soviet heroes, and her life is one of comfort and privilege. She is also a gifted piano prodigy and dreams of winning competitions for the honor of her country and the party. Her navet' is beyond extraordinary, until her encounter with a young artist who has experienced the dark side of dissidence shakes up her world. The cruelty and oppression of the Communist society have always been there; now she has the eyes to see the truth. Lelia's performances win her fame, but that is not enough to protect her father from a terrible fate. And she ends up betraying the one she loves to save herself. Will a music competition in London afford her a means of escape? Born in Baku, composer and singer turned first novelist Leya successfully depicts the grim realities of her birth city's Soviet era as she depicts a harsh coming-of-age.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)