When her father pulls her out of high school to care for her invalid
mother and little brother, sixteen-year-old Magda is devastated-but the
greater challenge is saving her family in the face of a war and
pandemic.
In 1916, the world is at war, even if America has not yet joined the
effort. But for Magda, the growing hostility her German immigrant family
faces hits close to home. Despite her domestic obligations, Magda
persists with her education, determined to find an independent role for
herself. Faced with the mounting crises of the war and the Spanish flu,
Magda seeks the knowledge and strength to try to protect those she loves
most.
Standing up to a war and pandemic, traditions and expectations, Magda
embarks on a journey of self-discovery and resilience that leads her
back to embracing her family and caring for a wider community.