Hedda Martens was born in Lübeck, Germany, on February 5, 1928. She grew up witnessing and experiencing World War II as a child and teenager. Her home was destroyed by British bombers in 1942. In her words, "I was fourteen and I had grown up." ¿ This memoir documents those difficult war years and tells the story of a new life Hedda built for herself along with the many family members who joined her in the U.S.