This novel is based in a Polish family’s experience during World War II. They are deported by the Soviet soldiers and forced to travel by train and later by foot to labor camps in Siberia. This was near the beginning of the war when the Soviets occupied Poland. You follow their travels, often being separated from each other, in Siberia, Uzbekistan, Palestine, Africa, Italy, England and finally all ending up in the United States.

Krysia Jopek has the story unfold with chapters from the perspective of four family members: Andrzej, the father; Zofia, the mother, Henryk, the oldest son, and Hegia, the daughter. It is fascinating to hear the story from the different voices. Andrzej works hard to provide for his family in cold barren Siberia. He is later separated from the rest of his family but sends money when he can. Zofia is concerned about feeding her children and when her husband is gone she provides food for the children. She worries about the effects of the cold of Siberia, the heat of Africa and the lack of food will have on the growth of all the children especially the youngest, Jozef. Henryk is seen has a young boy, and as he grows he is separated from the family, learning skills as he grows into a man. Hegia is also young when they are deported and writes poetry of the family’s experience. Hegia’s poetry also often separates chapters and is beautiful and powerful especially the one entitled “[D]ANGER: to live in a place not one’s own.”

The harsh realities bring the family together in Siberia and they try to stay in connect even when they are separated later. After the war, as Poland is now occupied by the Soviets the family cannot return without renouncing their Polish heritage. The Polish Army Resettlement Corps created by the British government worked to get Polish soldiers back into civilian life. Opportunities also were made available to the rest of the family and so they eventually immigrated to America with skills that opened up job opportunities for them all in their new country.

This is the story of Krysia Jopek’s own family as Henryk is her father. This story is well written and hard to put down as you hear the story of a family that loves each other and is put through such horrible experiences. Their story is powerful and gives a glimpse of one of the many families that were deported during World War II. The book includes a reading guide with study questions that makes it appropriate for Book Clubs and I also think that older teens would appreciate this story. My brother-in-law’s family immigrated to the United States from Poland and I plan on giving him this book for Christmas.