Based on true events, this unforgettable story takes you through a journey of love, loss, strength, and resistance during an unimaginable time in history.

When Waltraud's father is forced into Hitler's army to fight for the Fatherland, her world is turned upside down. If only he were there to help her deal with the watchful eyes of zealous Nazis, bombings, and the indescribable horrors of war. Instead, she's slowly robbed of her childhood, constantly longing for her father's return and the life she once knew. But it wasn't to be.

Hitler's lust for power made Germany despised by the world and turned it into heaps of rubble-and it almost broke her, too. But Waltraud finds strength, resisting the Nazis in big and small ways and bravely keeping a secret that could have her and others sent to their deaths. The war finally ends, but Germany is left with inconceivable scars, and Waltraud still feels lost. She finds love and is hopeful for a better future, but not before she must embark on yet another harrowing journey that could cost her her life.

Author's Note:
As a first generation American, the author grew up hearing stories from her mother about coming of age during World War 2 under the Nazi regime. Through the years, she catalogued and recorded her mother's extraordinary life experiences, even taking several trips with her to Germany to walk the cobblestone streets where recollections were shared in their actual settings. In-depth research combined with her mother's vivid memories make this compelling novel both historically accurate and incredibly moving, spanning from 1937 to post-war Germany. Grow up with her as she transitions from the innocence of childhood into the harsh realities of war and beyond. This historical World War II novel appeals to those who enjoy rich, historical fiction based on true stories. It is told from the protagonist's point of view and captures the often untold perspective of an average German citizen who grew up in a small village in northern Germany during WWII.