The novel tells the story of Alex, living by himself in a ruined house in the deserted Jewish Ghetto of a large Polish city during WWII. As he awaits his father’s return, the days turn into weeks, and one anxious adventure follows another.

Awards

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• Haifa University Prize for Young Readers, 1981

• IBBY Honor List for Israel, 1982

• Batchelder Award, American Library Association, 1984

• Association of Jewish Libraries, Best Book of the Year, 1984

• Edgar Allen Poe Special Award/Mystery Writers of America, 1985

• Jane Addams Peace Association and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Honor Award, 1985

• Silver Pencil Prize, Holland, 1986

• Hans Christian Andersen Prize, 1996 (For Life Work)

Rights Sold to:

China: Bridging Culture; Denmark, Gyldendal; France, Stock/Hachette; Germany, Elefanten/Ravensburger; Holland, De Fontein; Israel, Keter; Italy, Salani/Archimede; Japan, Kaiseisha; Korea, BIR; Poland, Nasza Ksiegarnia; Portugal, Ambar; Spain, Santillana/Altea, Taurus and Alfagaura; Taiwan, Eastern Publishing House;  UK, Hutchinson; USA, Houghton Mifflin

Film Rights: M&M Productions, Denmark/Moonstone Entertainment, LA

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Reviews:

"More than just a valuable addition to Holocaust literature . . . [Orlev's novel] should garner a wide audience, which is exactly what its spirited portrait of hope and dauntless courage deserves." – Booklist, ALA