In the War­saw ghet­to, child­hood ceased to exist. Chil­dren became thieves, smug­glers, and deal­ers in stolen goods in order to sur­vive and sup­port their fam­i­lies. Sur­round­ed by filth, fear, dis­ease, and dan­ger, Aron — an unpromis­ing child — finds his voca­tion and his voice. In straight­for­ward and unspar­ing words, he tells his sto­ry, draw­ing the read­er into the war as an inex­plic­a­ble event that sweeps Aron and his gang of fel­low smug­glers into a dar­ing mix of child­hood brava­do, inge­nu­ity, and courage.