It is Christmas eve. An old woman is living in poverty in a caravan so she goes to the town with her accordion to earn some money for fuel and food. Eventually

Charles Middleberg and his family are Polish Jews, living in France during World War II. After the German invasion in May 1940, Charles's father is taken away.

When his beloved donkey becomes ill, a young Italian boy is determined to take her to the crypt of St. Francis in Assisi in hopes of making her well.

"Powerful . . . equal parts heartwarming and heart-wrenching. White is a gifted storyteller." —Washington Post From the streets of Baltimore to the halls of t