Winner of the 1999 Carnegie Medal, this complex novel elegantly melds the contemporary experiences of 17-year-old Jacob with those of his grandfather, a British soldier also named Jacob who was killed in Holland in 1944. Recently arrived in Holland to attend a ceremony commemorating the battle at Arnhem in which his grandfather fought, Jacob feels displaced and confused. His thoughts and impressions are constantly evolving, as many of his initial impressions of people and places prove incorrect. Jacob’s story, in the form of “postcard” chapters, alternates with his grandfather’s tale, narrated by Geertrui, a Dutch woman who fell in love with the wounded (and married) soldier, later giving birth to his child. The fog surrounding Jacob’s trip begins to lift as he learns of his grandfather’s wartime love affair, and meets the aunt and cousin he never knew he had. He also meets Geertrui, who is dying of cancer. The intricate plot across generations is just one aspect of this ambitious work, which raises questions about loyalty, euthanasia, art, age, and family. Mature sexual content includes a frank discussion of simultaneous relationships Jacob’s cousin maintains with a male and a female partner. Jacob finds himself sexually attracted to both a young man and a young woman he meets on his trip, and shows an openness to exploring both of these potential relationships. (Age 16 and older)

Seventeen-year-old Jacob Todd is about to discover himself. Jacob's plan is to go to Amsterdam to honor his grandfather who died during World War II. He expects to go, set flowers on his grandfather's tombstone, and explore the city. But nothing goes as planned. Jacob isn't prepared for love&150or to face questions about his sexuality. Most of all, he isn't prepared to hear what Geertrui, the woman who nursed his grandfather during the war, has to say about their relationship. Geertrui was always known as Jacob's grandfather's kind and generous nurse. But it seems that in the midst of terrible danger, Geertrui and Jacob's grandfather's time together blossomed into something more than a girl caring for a wounded soldier. And like Jacob, Geertrui was not prepared. Geertrui and Jacob live worlds apart, but their voices blend together to tell one story&150a story that transcends time and place and war. By turns moving, vulnerable, and thrilling, this extraordinary novel takes the reader on a memorable voyage of discovery.