Book excerpt: Three generations ago, author Sophie Stallman was a young girl living a normal and happy existence with her traditional and privileged Polish family. But when the Germans invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, Sophie's life as she knew it would cease to exist. Under Nazi-occupied Poland, Sophie and her family were forced to endure a daily life of deprivation, fear, and struggle, but despite the abysmal war conditions to which she was subjected, Sophie was determined to pursue her own life in spite of the war. Pressing forward with her academic education and following her love of music she excelled developing her modern dance talents and mezzo-soprano voice. Sophie also made the courageous decision to join the Polish resistance organization -- a move that would put her life in constant jeopardy, especially during the 1944 Warsaw uprising.