the damage the war has done to the two countries.

Serraillier depicts the horrors of war in his novel in a thoughtful and approachable way. He shows how: families are broken up and children are orphaned; homes and cities are destroyed; children are forced to grow up well before they ought to; the bare necessities of life like food and shelter are lacking; illness is rampant; life is confusing and difficult and frustrating; and psychological traumas due to all of this suffering may take years to heal or never completely vanish. Serraillier's characters are strong and smart and plucky, but they still endure things beyond most of our comprehension.