An unusual, provocative coming-of-age novel is based on the true story of two young men whose paths crossed in Poland during World War II. Stefan was 17 when he met and fell in love with Willi, a young Austrian soldier who was stationed in his hometown. In the midst of a raging war, the two lovers manage to meet secretly several times before they are separated when Willi's company leaves town. Lovestruck and heartsick, Stefan sends a love letter to Willi, a shockingly innocent act that leads to tragedy. Lutz van Dijk's fast-paced, compelling narrative makes the events of 50 years ago seem like they happened today. Honor Book, 1995 CCBC Mildred L. Batchelder Award Discussion (Ages 14-18)

When the Nazis overran Poland in the fall of 1939, fifteen-year-old Stefan K.'s father was sent off to a German labor camp. Now, in the tense days of occupation, Stefan scrambles to help take care of his family. Yet when his brother, Mikolai, takes him out after curfew to celebrate his sixteenth birthday, Stefan makes a life-changing discovery: he yearns for men the way his brother does for women. As he juggles his time between his day job at a bakery and his evening work in the theater, Stefan becomes more aware of his desires. And then he meets Willi, his one true love.