Human Resiliency: the ability of the human spirit to ""heal"" from traumatic experiences. In 1943 Hitler and his Nazi army were in the midst of enacting their plan of cleansing Germany of the non-aryans which included those that were Jewish, the ""Gypsies,"" Jehovah's Witnesses, the physically disabled, those married to non-aryans and all who were against Hitler. Auschwitz was the largest death camp during this time. This novel is set during this time, when Human Resiliency was tested often. Through the perspectives of the two main characters: Kurt and Ilsa, the novel captures the resiliency of the human spirit as they face the traumatic experiences during this time period. The role that love has in fueling the resiliency of the spirit; both the loss of love, and being surrounded by it.