By the time he is twelve, Frank Levy understands that to attain his wishes, he must depend upon himself. In the young adult edition of Life with an Accent we meet Levy as a happy toddler oblivious to political dangers. Seeking safety, in 1936 his family moves from Germany to the British Mandate of Palestine. Ten years later they emigrate to America to be with grandma. Again, Levy must change languages, cultures, even his name. With every effort to adapt, he sees that the history we live through matters.