The End of the World Is Near

Oliver is eleven years old, and he chose his own name in honor of his favorite Dickens hero. He loves playing “Snake” on his phone and eating “like in America.” He dreams of beating the bully Tsapa, curing himself of HIV, and becoming part of a real family. But when a future mom and dad arrive from Salt Lake City, the TV starts telling everyone that the end of the world is coming soon. Prose writer Mykyta Franko, author of the bestsellers “Days of Our Lives” and “Windows to the Courtyard,” explores social themes in his works. Franko’s characters often find themselves in dead ends we try not to think about too often. But as experience shows—there is a way out, and it’s always nearby.