A young girl is transported from a modern-day Passover Seder into the harrowing reality of a 1942 Nazi concentration camp. Hannah Stern, tired of her family's focus on the past, finds herself thrust into the body of a village girl named Chaya, where she must navigate the brutal constraints of life under Nazi occupation. The narrative framework shifts between contemporary perspectives and the visceral, immediate experience of survival in a death camp. Hannah's objective is to maintain her humanity and identity while facing the systematic dehumanization imposed by her captors.

This work is widely regarded as a significant contribution to Holocaust literature for younger readers due to its accessible yet unflinching approach to historical trauma. The narrative is frequently praised for its ability to bridge the gap between contemporary life and the gravity of the past without resorting to didacticism. Readers often note that the time-slip mechanism serves as an effective tool for grounding complex historical concepts in a relatable, character-focused framework. The book remains a staple in educational settings for its capacity to foster deep discussions regarding memory, heritage, and the moral imperative to remember.