The book begins in eastern Europe in a little-known period of history - the chaotic years just after World War I. It's the story of Devorah and her little sister, who survive the Night of the Burning and are chosen to join a dramatic journey to a safe haven, stopping along the way in a luxurious hotel in London and a crowded orphanage in Cape Town. Based on a true story, it's a powerful and utterly compelling first-person account of the trauma experienced by a child, and her subsequent journey from despair through to hope.