The book describes the life of Fanny and her family in Europe and their remarkable escape, orchestrated by Fanny's mother, Regina. Fanny and her family moved from Tarnow, Poland, to Berlin in 1930, but returned to Krakow shortly before WWII began. A series of events set in motion the family's flight from Europe. Their escape route took the Bienenfelds across several countries and oceans on their quest to find safety. By air, land, and sea, the family crisscrossed their way to freedom; first to Trieste and Genoa, Italy, then to Tangier, Morocco, back to Seville and on to Lisbon, and, finally, to the U.S.A.