John and his family find out that the Germans are trying to invade the Netherlands, and that there is now war. He and his family go to Schevenagen to pick up the rest of their family who have been staying with relatives. Then the Germans bomb Rotterdam, and the family travels home. They experience the horror and destruction of war. This book was pretty good. I thought it would bore me, but I actually found myself enjoying it. I learned how terrrible war is and how thankful I am that I didn't live during that time.