What was it like to be an innocent child in the 1930s in Berlin, Germany, and then, suddenly, have your tranquil existence snatched away and exchanged for the horrors of World War II and its aftermath? Experience it through the eyes of a girl named Eva. Laugh with her, fret with her, mourn with her. Meet her close-knit, fun-loving family and her friends. Discover how she and the people around her cope in the face of adversity and survive. Eva's story is like a kaleidoscope, in which the pretty, bright pieces of childhood joys and evacuation years are mixed with the ugly ones of air raids and the Russian invasion. Add to this melange the very dark bits of the loss of her father and family home, as well as the nightmarish Berlin blockade with hunger and cold. Your mind may scream, "Dismal picture " It isn't so. Nothing suppresses Eva's spirit for very long. he is tough when necessary, cherishes every good moment, and loses neither her optimism nor her sense of humor. * Entertaining - upbeat - informative. Suitable reading for teens and adults.