My lime orange tree - by José Mauro de Vasconcelos

A classic of Brazilian literature, with adaptations for television, cinema and theater, O Meu Pé de Laranja Lima is one of those books that marks an era. Released in 1968, it is a strongly autobiographical story, which demonstrates the hand of an experienced writer, aware of the effect he can have on readers with his scenes and the composition of his characters. The protagonist Zezé is 6 years old and lives in a modest neighborhood, in the north of Rio de Janeiro. The father is unemployed, and the family is going through difficulties. The boy lives up to no good, without ever conforming to the limitations that the world imposes on him – he travels with his imagination, plays, explores, discovers, responds to adults, gets into trouble, causes small disasters. The beatings given to him by his father and older sister are his torture, to the point of making him want to give up on life. However, the attachment to the world he created happily always speaks louder. There is just no medicine for the pain, for the loss. And Zezé will discover this very soon. Joy and sadness could not be better combined than in these pages. And this, if it doesn't explain it, justifies the immense popularity achieved by the book.