Hollow Chest by Brita Sandstrom

 

Ever since his brother Theo went off to fight in World War II, Charlie has been trying hard to look after his family: take on more responsibilities so his overworked mum doesn't get more stressed out, have patience with Grandpa Fitz when he starts forgetting things, and of course look after his cat Biscuits. But the hole Theo left in the family has been aching more and more. So Charlie is overjoyed when the war is finally over and Theo can come home. 

But when Theo does return, he's not the same laughing boy he was when he left. He's cold and distant, and sometimes he screams in the middle of the night. Charlie wants to help Theo return to who he was before the war, but then he discovers the true cause of Theo's change: war wolves. These ancient beasts feed upon the hearts of soldiers in wars, and they've eaten Theo's heart. 

Charlie has to follow the wolves and convince them to give Theo's heart back if he wants to save Theo. But can his brother ever truly be the same person he was before? 

I read this book based on Anne Ursu's recommendation, which convinced me that it would be good before I even read it. And it didn't disappoint. Not only is it a combination of two of my favorite genres (low fantasy and WWII fiction), Charlie is such a sweet, empathetic protagonist that I couldn't help but follow him to the end. The war wolves are deliciously sinister, but with a hint of something almost human in them. And of course there's the cat, Biscuits, who follows Charlie everywhere and even protects him against the wolves. This is such a beautiful novel.