Each day ten-year-old Rosa de Jong recites the increasing regulations for Jewish citizens in Nazi-occupied Holland. If she can remember the rules and make certain her younger sister knows them, too, she is certain they will be safe. But no one is safe, and readers know this despite Rosa's denial of the larger reality. Mother remains calm and practical, Father drifts from one terrible uncertainty to another, but Uncle Sander brings optimism into the family circle. Powerfully developed main and secondary characters and scenes fill this frightening glimpse of the enormous toll exacted upon one child who experienced the Holocaust. A strong sense of immediacy juxtaposed with dream-like terror earmarks the third autobiographical novel by Vos to be translated into English for U.S. publication. The other novels are Hide and Seek (Houghton, 1991) and Anna is Still Here (Houghton, 1993). Winner, 1995 CCBC Mildred L. Batchelder Award Discussion (Ages 10-16)

For ten-year-old Rosa de Jong, dreams are her refuge from everyday life in Nazi-occupied Holland. Dreams and one other thing - her music, for Rosa is a talented violinist. Like other Jewish children, she can no longer go to school, but she still has her violin lessons with old Mr. Goldstein. Rosa's parents have a dream, too, one they hardly dare mention except in jokes about dancing in Avignon. But will their wartime dreams come true?