David escapes a brutal concentration camp, embarking on a perilous journey across Europe with no one to trust and the constant threat of recapture. He is a boy who has known only confinement and cruelty, and now he must navigate a world of new sensations—the sea, mountains, flowers, and the kindness of strangers. His objective is to reach Denmark, a place he vaguely associates with freedom, but he faces the immense challenge of learning to survive and connect in a society utterly foreign to him, all while evading the shadowy figures who may still be pursuing him.

The novel is celebrated for its powerful portrayal of a child's resilience and his introduction to a world of wonder and kindness after immense suffering. Readers often highlight David's profound personal growth as he learns to trust and experience life's simple beauties. The narrative is frequently compared to other acclaimed works that explore themes of survival and innocence in the face of historical trauma. It is considered a poignant story of self-discovery and the enduring human spirit.