by Bette Greene
First published 1989
Patty Bergen finds herself trapped in occupied France during World War II. The American teenager must navigate the dangerous reality of Nazi-controlled territory while searching for safety and hope. Each day brings new challenges as she encounters both cruelty and unexpected kindness from strangers. Patty struggles with hunger, fear, and isolation as she tries to survive in a world turned upside down by war. The girl who once knew comfort and security now faces impossible choices that will test her courage and resilience. Her journey becomes one of discovering inner strength she never knew she possessed, even as the morning light she longs for seems impossibly distant.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, war, young-adult
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, resilience
Setting: France, Nazi-Controlled Territory
Period: World War II
294 pages · Mass Market Paperback · EDL
Content warnings: war