Grace, exuberance, and optimism are tested by the horrors of World War II as youthful Terenia with her family are forced to abandon their Polish estate and flee through Europe. Along the way they endure uncertainty, loss, and hope. They are helped--or hindered--by local peasants, the elite of nobility, royalty, and all echelons of the Church. Surrounded by global forces exposing the depths of inhumanity, each family member's strength and frailties are ruthlessly exposed. As they seek refuge amidst shifting battle lines and national boundaries, Terenia's personal journey leads her to womanhood and a life beyond.