A Childhood Interrupted by WWII_______In 1940, German troops invade France. Overnight, ten-year old Pierre's life is turned upside down. Optimistic by nature, he believes the occupation of his country won't last. However, as time goes by and the situation worsens, he must adjust to reality. With resilience, he learns to live as normally as possible within his close-knit family, surrounded by the havoc of war. In difficult times, people show their best or worst behavior. Friendships are made, strained, or lost. Pierre experiences all these, but never loses hope during the four long years separating the first day of invasion to the day of liberation. _______Annick O. Shinn was born in France shortly before World War II broke out. She still has vivid memories of her childhood under German occupation, and based on those memories, weaved a novel depicting the living conditions during that period. She immigrated to the United States in the late 50's and settled in California.