Italian authors publish memoir on child's leukemia and WWII novel

Alessandra Di Rocco released an autobiographical memoir titled “Un libro non si giudica dalla copertina” through Gruppo Albatros Il Filo. The book recounts her son Francesco’s 2016 diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia type B, the ensuing hospital treatment, chemotherapy, and the network of solidarity that supported the family. It includes a preface by Barbara Alberti and reflects on motherhood, work precarity, and the emotional challenges of caring for a seriously ill child.

Andrea Molesini’s new novel “La macina della risacca”, published by Sellerio, tells the story of his father Aurelio’s flight after Italy’s 8 September 1943 armistice. Aurelio, a naval engineer who carried secret aircraft designs for the planned Italian‑German carrier “Aquila”, navigates a perilous journey from Genoa to Venice amidst a disintegrating war‑torn country. Set in a hospital on the Lido di Venezia, the narrative intertwines personal memory with historical events, exploring the legacy of war within family life.