From the back cover: "In 1927, when prosperity still reigns in Central Europe, Yenko is born to two Coppersmith Gypsies. His parents, Josef and Anna, are nomads who raise their son during the relative calm of the Great Depression of the 1930's. Soon, though, dangerous times threaten to unsettle their family, as their heritage makes them vulnerable targets for ethnic cleansing. As Germany invades Czechoslovakia and the conflicts of World War Two begin to unfold, Yenko and his parents become fugitives, forced on a journey that promises only great uncertainty and offers survival as a remote possibility. In the course of their flight, the burden of an ancient tradition rests entirely on Yenko's shoulders.
In capturing the desperation and perseverance of one family during an extaorinary time in history, Louise Doughty pays powerful homage to an insular and little-known culture."

This was a horrendous story, but one that needed to be told. I am glad that I read it, as I am now better informed about this terrible time in the history of the Gypsies and know more about their culture.

RELEASE NOTES:

Left on the ledge of one of the bank machines. Released for the Never Judge a Book By Its Cover release challenge(week #17, "Fire, flames" in the title).