The isolation and suffering of the Channel Islands during World War II is a heavily overlooked chapter of history. In June 1940, Winston Churchill made the agonizing strategic decision to demilitarize and effectively abandon the Channel Islands. They became the only part of the British Isles to fall under Nazi control. For five long years, the islanders suffered severe food shortages, near-starvation, strict curfews, and censorship. Because they were isolated from the UK mainland, many residents felt entirely abandoned by their own government. In the book, the characters of Grace (the librarian) and Bea (the postwoman) highlight how everyday citizens fought back. The hid banned books and delivered forbidden news became a lifeline that preserved the islanders' humanity, hope, and mental escape when they had absolutely nothing else. -Sarah S.