After a harrowing escape from the front line, 15-year-old Hans Jokisch and his family return to their village in Silesia. But their beloved home is occupied - by the Schöppe family. They have no choice but to share the house from now on. Over time, the Jokisch house also becomes a home for the Schöppe family and Hans befriends the young Bruno Schöppe.

If twelve-year-old Karl had been able to choose who he fell in love with, it would not have been the much taller Lea from his class. Now he doesn't have much time to fnd out whether Lea can reciprocate his feelings. After the summer holidays, she will change schools​.