As a young girl in Budapest in the 1930s, Marika dreams of growing up to be a scientist or maybe an explorer. An older brother who never tells her anything, a beloved rag doll, an embarrassing mother, school, friends--Marika's life revolves around ordinary things until her father decides to build a wall in their home, creating separate living quarters for himself. Why can't they live together, like her friend Zsofi's family?

Then, when Marika is fifteen, the Germans occupy Budapest, and war surrounds her. Her ordinary life disintegrates as her friends and family separate. Forced into hiding, Marika begins to understand the fragility and strength of the bonds among family and friends, and gradually she comes to terms with her shattered world.

 

This book was recognised in the Older Readers category by the Sydney Taylor Book Award.

This book has been graded for interest at 10+ years.

There are 144 pages in this book. This book was published 2002 by Front Street Inc .

Andrea Cheng is the daughter of Hungarian immigrants, and grew up among extended family -- all Holocaust survivors. She lives in Cincinnati.