Irene Kanesky is a sixteen-year-old Jewish girl from a small town in Poland called Malbork. Her mother died at birth, so it's always been her, her father, and her Great Aunt Selma. In the midst World War II, her father is captured by the Nazis so for months it's just her and her aunt. Two years after no contact with her father, Selma dies too. Irene is left alone. Then, it happens again. She comes in contact with the Nazis again. Irene hides in the closet, but is discovered by Harry Boesch, an eighteen-year-old new Nazi who doesn't really know what he's doing. He looks into the eyes of Irene, and sees the desperation. There's something about her that Harry doesn't understand. Harry closes the closet door, and reports to the group leader that he's found nothing. Later, Harry goes back for Irene and helps her escape Poland. In the midst of everything, a love begins to bloom.