Fourteen-year old Madeline, whose family has recently been stationed in Germany, sets out to find out a family secret that no one wants to talk about, one that involves an unusual symbol and a photo of a mysterious young man...the same photo that brings her grandma to tears. Accompanied by her friend Molly, the girls use the Internet, journals, and clues found along the way to solve Grandma's secret. Madeline realizes that she might not like the answer she finds, but is determined to discover the identity of the man and his connection to Grandma. As their adventure unfolds, Madeline learns the history of her grandmother's village, the horrible consequences of the Holocaust, and how World War II changed her family forever.