Central Kansas Library System

Sophie Heller's family emigrated from Germany to Victory, a small town in Illinois, before World War II began. Now that the war has affected the town, the townspeople discriminate against Sophie and her family. When a train derails by accident, the Heller family is blamed. A teacher from the local high school comes to Sophie's rescue, and despite their cultural differences, a romance starts to bloom.

"Moving through the world in a body that looks different than most, Jones learned on to factor "pain calculations" into every plan, every situation. She was born with a rare congenital condition called sacral agenesis, which affects both the stature and gait, and so her pain is physical. But there is also the pain of being judged and pitied for her appearance, of being dismissed as "less than." The way she has been seen--or not seen--has informed...

It's the deadliest combination going: Bullies who get what want from their target, bullied kids who are afraid to tell, bystanders who either watch, participate, or look away, and adults who see the incidents as simply "teasing" and a normal part of childhood. We have only to look to the headlines to understand that this is a recipe for tragedy. Some bullying victims, their cries unheard, have fought back with violence that has devastated entire communities;...