Inspired by her grandmother’s childhood experiences in Holocaust-era Romania, Michael L. Printz honoree & National Book Award finalist Elana K. Arnold weaves an unforgettable tale of love and loss in the darkest days of the twentieth century. After their father abandoned the family seven years ago, Frederieke and Astra Teitler’s grandfather did his best to provide for the sisters and shield them from antisemitism. But when war breaks out in Europe, their beloved home, Czernowitz, once considered a safe haven for Jewish people, becomes increasingly dangerous. First the Russians, then the Germans, invade. Almost overnight, Frederieke and Astra’s world changes, and every day becomes a struggle: to keep their grandfather’s business, their home, and their lives. As those that threaten Frederieke and her family close in around them, she must decide between holding on to her life or letting go of everything that has ever mattered to her—a choice she may not even have the chance to make.
