Yanek and his family live in Krakow, Poland. But in just a blink of an eye, their city was invaded by the Germans beginning WWII. For now, Yanek and his family remain in Krakow. For a little while they stay in their flat with several other families. Anti-Semitic rules have been put in place that persecute Jewish people, taking away any right they had. Over time, walls are built up around the ghetto to contain the remaining jews who have not been taken for resettlement or deportation yet. One-by-one many Jews were relocated to other Jewish ghettos, work camps, concentration camps, or were killed on site.

Yanek's Figurative Journey

With the stress of no food and constant hiding, Yanek is living in fear of being caught by the Nazis. His emotional state is one of constant terror and panic at what awaits him at every turn. The unknown aspects of the war leave a feeling of being unsettled. Yanke's early life as a 10-year-old boy before the war was normal. He attended school, played with friends, and went to the synagogue with his family. He loves his Mom and Dad and looks up to them, but as the war continues, Yanek begins to doubt his father's constant hopefulness and positivity and wonders who is really right- his father or Uncle Moshe. "I still worried he was wrong, but fresh bread made me forget all my troubles. For a little while, at least." (pg. 25) Doubting your parents for the first time is a struggle for Yanek especially in war-torn Poland.

Imagine yourself alone, after the apocalypse of the Nazis. All your family, friends, and enemies are gone. A thirteen-year-old boy all alone in the big world. He felt lost, like he had no will to live, No reason to live as Yanek was ashamed to be himself. On one tense sad day, he was taken away. He finds himself on a new rhythm of feeling. He now identifies as no one.

Nine levels, which one would you choose? In the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Yanek was chosen one out of fifty men and with the time ticking the walls soon turned into salt. The clanking of the elevator going 1,000 feet under to their surprise, Yanek and his peers spent little time mining in the dark long tunnels of Wieliczca Salt Mine. Even past the sound of the water dripping off the walls, the salt chipping off, and the beautiful statues and chandeliers glowing. Death sting lingered in the air.

After the Wieliczka Salt Mine, Yanek was taken to Trzebinia for a new camp. Unlike anywhere else, Trzbenia has been the most difficult and frustrating camp, with the fury of the guards' games and the fear of losing. Yanek tries his hardest but ends up feeling like a sheep to slaughter, making him feel unaccepted and lost. Who was he? And what was he going to say? Falling into a maze of thoughts.

In chapter 16, Yanek is taken to Birkenau Germany on a train. This was the first time Yanek had ever traveled this far in Germany. He thought this would happen some day but didn't know it would be under those circumstances. He was being suffocated in the corner of the train by dozens of people. Most musclemen died after a long ride. One specific muscleman died alongside Yanek's shoulder. Inside the claustrophobic room, Yanek does his best to keep calm. As for he knew where he was going and certainly didn't like it.

Yanek's Figurative Journey

Yanek ponders, who would he be if this never happened? What is next? This conflicting maze of thoughts brings him to one conclusion, he has come so far. He feels sick, no hospitality, no comfort. Just him and himself against the world. As he rides the train, watching the kids outside tease him for being who he is. Or were they? The whispers on the train leave him wary. As he arrives to the destination the smell and burnt flesh make him ill. The sadness comes over him at once.

In these chapters, Yanek goes into Auschwitz confused, As newly deported families with clothes and luggage get sent into the camps. Families, Jews, and polish were all registered and women and children were taken to gas chambers and crematoriums. Yanek Pushes through and lies about his age making him scared as the families get sent to the gas chambers. The men were devastated. Talking to a new friend Fred, Fred suddenly gets sick leaving Yanek heartbroken.

In 1945, after the death march, Yanek barely survived by a sliver, weak and bony as he was. As soon as he arrived, he was given soup and bread. As Yanek rejuvenated overnight, he pulled through to work through the Sachsenhausen camp. He got pulled aside and sent to a new camp, leaving his past and moving forward.

Once the Sachsenhausen guards were tired of Yanek and his peers they set them off, The long train ride of people dropping dead due to the claustrophobic environment. Yanek knew what to do, as this wasn't his first rodeo. After his long dreaded ride, he arrived at the Bergen-Belsen camp. Once he and his peers were lined up like children. The fellow man chose 75 prisoners and shot them dead. The rest had one week to rejuvenate. After his week break, he was back to work, hitting rock after rock. Large to small, he swung and swung day after day. A man they call moonface targeted Yanek. "You looked at me weird," Moonface said. Days later a work detail opened to move to a new camp, but you must be strong enough to pass a race... And Yanek ran like his life depended on it.

As Yanek was pulled into a new concentration camp, he was followed by his loyal fellow peers. This new camp was the equivalent of a never-ending rabbit hole. As whatever you did was risky. Even guards were being watched. As yanek moves along he is struck by the poor behavior as the guards hurt the animals. What really was the reason and why were the Jews treated less than the animals? Yanek had though. Even the animals were being abused and bullied by the kapos. But why?

Once Yanek was taken off to Grob Rosenburg, he was startled by the camp. The people paid attention to many details. As Yanek was working one day, he was told off by a kapo, "Where is your button". Yanek had no clue what he was talking about. There was a punishment for the people with no buttons. As yanek went to bed with his hits from the kapo. He had a dream of a green meadow, but as the kapo hit him. He was falling down a vast dream.

After Yanek arrived in Dachau, A typhus sickness started right with his bedmate. The man soon later died of this sickness. Yanek was utterly surprised with the outcome of the man's death leading to no disease towards Yanek. One night, the Jews heard gunshots and bombings right outside the camps. Later that morning no one woke them up, and no SS Officers were outside. There are no kapos to beat them and no Soldiers. Until Yanek and his peers follow the trail to happiness outside. The Allies had arrived and taken all the Jews to a home in Munich.

At the start of chapter 30 and the end of chapter 29, the soldiers take Yanek, giving him a place to sleep, eat, and regain his health and strength. Once he is regenerated, he gets himself in one. One day, walking on the street, Yanek sees someone familiar. Yanek finds Mrs. Immerglick, who knows where Yanek's cousins went. After Yanek moved to Munich and visited his family, he joined a group for orphans of the Holocaust. This group gave Yanek an opportunity to move to America and start his life again.