The time period of the book is World War II and the main character is ten-year-old Ada who has never left her one-room apartment. Ada's mother is embarrassed by her disabled daughter and refuses to let her outside. In the story, her little brother is shipped out of the city to escape the war and Ada sneaks out to join him. The rest of the book starts a life-changing adventure for Ada, her brother, and Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to become their guardian.
