Guido, Anna and Mario, children orphaned and homeless in Naples in 1943, ally themselves with each other to combat all the unforeseen trials created by the annihilating forces of war. Gritty, sensual description of horrid physical deprivation interwoven with Guido's childlike and wise comments give immediacy and perspective to the children's odyssey from Naples to Northern Italy. This historical novel certainly achieves Haugaard's purpose: To tell a story about war "that is an answer to that query, 'What was it like?' which most veterans leave unanswered."