'A powerful story, sweetly told' – Antonio Iturbe, author of The Librarian of Auschwitz A country torn apart by war. Two siblings divided by fate. Italy, 1938. Mussolini is in power and war is not far away . . . Clara and Pippo are just children: quiet, thoughtful Clara is the older sister; Pippo, the younger brother, is forever chatting. The family has only recently arrived in the city carrying their few possessions. When Mamma goes missing early one morning, both Clara and Pippo go in search of her. Clara turns right; Pippo left.