Set in Ukraine during WWII, Philip Kerr's heart-rending children's book is a story of survival against the odds.

In the midst of another freezing winter, Max, the devoted caretaker of a wildlife reserve, must learn to live with the Nazis who have overrun his land.

He must also learn to keep secrets - for there is a girl, Kalinka, who is hiding in the park.

Kalinka has lost her home, her family, her belongings - everything but her life.

Still, she has gained one small, precious gift: a relationship with the rare, wild and wily Przewalski's horses that wander the reservation.

Apart from Max, these endangered animals are her only friends - until a Nazi campaign of extermination nearly wipes them out for good.

Now Kalinka must set out on a treacherous journey through the frozen Ukrainian forest to save the only two surviving horses - and herself.

This sensitive, inspiring tale captures the power of sacrifice, the endurance of the human spirit and the astonishing loyalty of animals.