Poland, 1939. Three-year-old Renata is woken in the middle of the night and bundled into the basement. No one has explained to Renata what war is. She only knows her Tatus, a doctor, is in Europe with the Polish Army and that her beautiful Mamusia is not allowed to work at the university anymore. One morning Mamusia returns home with little yellow stars for them to wear. Renata thinks that they will keep them safe.

June, 1942. Two soldiers burst into their apartment carrying guns. Renata, Mamusia and grandmother 'Babcia' are taken to the Ghetto. The adults are forced to work long hours at the factory and one day Mamusia and Babcia do not return from their shifts. Renata is six years old. Utterly alone, she is passed from place to place and survives through the willingness of ordinary people to take the most deadly risks. Her unlikely blonde hair and blue eyes and other twists of fate save her life but stories become her salvation.