This book is based in postwar America in the 50’s . People were struggling and jobs , families and relationships were complicated . The storyline comes from an orphaned German child Michael staying with a family in New York who has been sent away to stay with friends The Kaplan’s in Cape Cod for the summer while their new baby is born . Mrs Kaplan’s grandson Richie and Michael are meant to become soul mates but Richie is raw with losing his father in the war and Michael has a past that he has to keep secret. They befriend Mr and Mrs Aitch who are struggling artists in this difficult era as they all seek the all American dream . This is a lovely tale of so many different characters who don’t like each other and sadly very true to life.