FESTIVAL 2026

Sirens

by Joseph Kertes

Stonehewer Books

FESTIVAL 2026

Sirens

by Joseph Kertes

Stonehewer Books

Synopsis

Sirens is that rarest of gifts—a novel that holds the whole world.” —Alyssa York, author of Far Cry

Hiding in a coffin beneath barn floorboards, a sixteen-year-old Roma boy named Gabriel evades Bulgarian and German marauders in wartime Greece. Phoebe, a Greek girl his age, keeps him alive by bringing him provisions, and the two inevitably fall in love. Their union is opposed by her family—especially by her father, who works in the Greek underground resistance.

Although they are caught in the violent currents of war and history, Gabriel and Phoebe remain enchanted by the small miracles around them and the possibilities of love and redemption. Sirens is Gabriel’s diary of his days in hiding and the weeks after. It is an indelible, deeply moving story of youth, love, and loss.

About the Author

Joseph Kertes escaped from Hungary with his family as a child during the Hungarian Revolution. He founded Humber Polytechnic's creative writing and comedy programs, where he served as Dean of Creative and Performing Arts for many years and received numerous awards for teaching and innovation. His novels, among them Winter Tulips, Gratitude, and Last Impressions, have won or been finalists for a number of literary awards. His novel, The Afterlife of Stars, was a New York Times Book Review Editor's Pick. Kertes received the 2017 Harbourfront Festival Prize for his contribution to literature and the literary community. 

Read more about Joseph Kertes

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