Nilla, a sixteen-year-old German girl, finds refuge from the tumult and influence of the rising Nazi regime by entering the Dominican Order of the Poor School Sisters. But her life quickly turns her away from solitude and solace toward a remarkable journey that changes her forever. Nilla's story is a coming of age tale in a foreign land where nature and humanity show their most bitter faces. She encounters hardship, prejudice, and injustice, but also forges an enduring friendship with Tanik, a young Indian woman. The ensuing cultural frictions force Nilla to confront relentless questions as the lines between right and wrong are persistently blurred. Nowhere can she find answers; not even God seems to offer a clear path. But as Nilla faces her world, she discovers strength and value within herself and her religion. She learns to separate the light and darkness in the souls around her.