This novel is set during world war II and tells the story of Simone who is Belgian and the daughter of a hero of world war I and her friend Hava who is Polish and a Jew. Now I love history based novels and this one really hit the spot - we all know what happened to the Jews during the war but to read about one girl and what herself and her family had to endure puts this book in a different light to others I have read. It makes it more of a personal read. Both ladies are just 18 years old , they have dreams of finding the right man to marry, about having children and living the perfect life. Simone is distraught when Hava is taken away but promises to find her when the war is over. The relationship between the two women is beautifully written and between bouts of tears you know this is a book you will remember always