World War II memories define Mrs. Drazner's life. A loving husband, Henri, helped her live through the mayhem, but now she's a widow, struggling to get by alone. A school girl living upstairs in Mrs. D's building faces problems of her own. Bullies make Betsy's life unbearable, and she contemplates suicide—but then Mrs. D offers Betsy a way to survive.Baldino's characters provide an enlightening look at people who find ways to support each other. The author hopes that parents, concerned adults and their children use the story as a tool to discuss ways to deal with bullying.