It is World War II. For the first time ever, Livie, thirteen, makes two friends only to have them move away under war-time circumstances. Losing friends is bad enough-then Livie learns she will be sharing her home with her cousin, Nigel-a British evacuee-whom she dislikes. The unhappy Livie is thrown together not only with Nigel, but also with Marnie, the class loner. As Livie works through these new experiences, two things happen. The first is good. A rejected Canine Corps dog becomes a remarkable pet. The other is tragic. Their neighbor’s son, Bill, is killed in action. His grieving mother leaves to find solace with her daughter-so everyone believes. Livie, however, observes some odd things and begins to suspect this isn’t true. She enlists Nigel and Marnie to help hunt for the missing neighbor. Their search draws them into more excitement than they bargained for!