The streets are eerily empty and everyone in the Jewish community is terrified of Peter the Hermit. His men, the Crusaders, are moving through the town on their way to the Holy Land. They have been known to batter down doors and burn Jewish houses, all in the name of religion. This is not Nazi Germany but Troyes, France, in 1096, as seen through the eyes of funny, feisty, twelve-year-old Elvina.
Sylvie Weil is the author of several works of adult fiction and the Elvina trilogy, a series of French novels for young adults. Gillian Rosner has translated many award-winning books for children, including Secrets from 0 to 10 and A Book of Coupons.