Based on the true story of a young boy living outside the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII who helps his stepfather smuggle food and guns to the Jews on the other side. When Marek becomes involved with a Jewish escapee from the Ghetto, he finds himself caught in the middle of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising.

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Awards

Highly Recommended, Foundation for the Collective Promotion of the Dutch Book, 1990

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Preis der Leseratten, Germany, 1991

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Honor List, Auswahlliste Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis, Germany, 1991

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Honor List, Catholic Youth Book Prize, Germany, 1991

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Story Book Honor, Parent’s Choice, USA, 1991

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Notable Title, Children’s Book Council, USA, 1991

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Bulletin Blue Ribbon, Center for Children’s Books, USA, 1991

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Batchelder Award, American Library Association, USA, 1991

National Jewish Book Award, USA, 1992

Rights Sold to:

China: Bridging Culture; Denmark, Forum Forlag; France, Flammarion; Germany, Beltz; Holland, De Fontein; Israel, Keter; Japan, Iwanami Shoten; Spain, SM; Sweden, Raben & Sjogren; USA, Houghton Mifflin/Puffin Books

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Reviews:

“This is a story of individual bravery and national shame that highlights just how hopeless was the fate of the Warsaw Jews as they fought alone and heroically against the Nazi war machine.” – School Library Journal, Starred

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“[A] richly authentic story... Subtle, beautifully crafted, altogether compelling.” – Kirkus Reviews