
Dark Eyes follows Wally, a clever and rebellious 16-year-old adopted girl who has left her wealthy New York family to live on the streets. When she stumbles upon documents revealing her birth origins, she inadvertently attracts the attention of Alexei Klesko, a savage Russian gangster. The twist: Klesko is her biological father, a fact he doesn't know. This suspenseful chapter book explores themes of identity, family secrets, and survival, as Wally navigates the dangerous underworld while seeking answers about her past. Parents should be aware of the mature themes, including organized crime, violence, and a protagonist living on the streets, which may be more suitable for older middle-grade or young adult readers despite the listed age range.
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Sign in to write a reviewImplied through the antagonist's reputation and organized crime themes.
Protagonist is in constant danger from a ruthless gangster.
Central to the plot and antagonist's character.
Protagonist lives by 'larcins divers' (various petty thefts).
Protagonist has cut ties with her adoptive family and lives on the streets.