This book is about the brave Dutch people who risked their lives to save Jewish refugees who had escaped to the Netherlands from Germany when the Nazis came to power. It is also, equally, about the Jews and their struggle to stay alive, daring the curse of Hitler and his followers. Children, too, have starring roles in this drama, despite their parents’ efforts to protect and shield them from the horrors of this terrible time.
Based on a true story, the book is written as a series of letters from Walter, the main character — as a boy to his grandmother, and as an adult to his granddaughter. Through this unique narrative structure, the reader sees the shift in historical perspective.