Soon-to-be eleven year old asthmatic and traumatized Sammy is told that he must leave his family for two years. No face-to-face contact is allowed while he's institutionalized in the Denver, Colorado asthma facility. Sammy faces many changes such as being sent away from his family, learning English, attending an American school, and developing friends in a new country. His courage and resiliency help him to adjust to the challenges that lie ahead. He talks to a kind Psychologist who gently peels away Sammy's defenses-one layer at a time. He soon discovers that his cure is being away from his troubled family life. Sammy completes his two years residence, and he's not had one asthma attack. He learns to box and even appears on Pee Wee television boxing. By doing arts and crafts projects he learns about the Native American culture. He has many new friends and even emerges as a leader among the boys. After two years, Sammy is deemed healthy and is ready to be reunited with his family. While his asthma gone, so is his native language, Hebrew. Sammy, now an adolescent, returns to Israel. He reunites and is fond of a girl he once knew in earlier grades. The grandfather he idolizes is not the same man as his health is failing. His parents announce the family's impending departure to America. New challenges lie ahead namely, leaving his ailing grandfather, a girlfriend and his many friends. When the family immigrates to New York on the SS ZION, Sammy wonders if he will ever see his grandparents and Soshana (Rose). He concocts a plan to return to Israel but will it work?