I simply could not put this book down. We learn so much about what life was like for the victims and victors of WWII, but I don't believe I've ever read much about the aftermath of the war on German citizens (aside from the fictional The Book Thief). I was regularly horrified throughout Wolfgang's story. I didn't realize the poverty and suffering the average German, especially the refugees, went through. I had to keep reminding myself that this book was a memoir, not fiction, because Wolfgang Samuel told such a descriptive and page-turning story. In the end, I found myself amazed by the sheer luck his family found at times, along with the grit of his often stubborn and sometimes selfish mother. I mourned the loss of his friends and family members, particularly with the gruesome ways they died. I felt such joy whenever the family found safety and shelter, and most especially when they made it to America. I will be recommending this book to everyone.