Fictional heroine, Johanna Eder and her physician/attorney Father, Franz Eder, emigrate to America from Germany shortly before the beginning of World War I to escape the growing antisemitism and aggressive colonialism that will bring suffering to millions of people. Once in America, Franz works at the research laboratory at Johns-Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, and Johanna enters the nursing profession. She assimilates into her new culture but her fears of antisemitism haunt her and she experiences several highly traumatic events.

Through the unconditional love from an unexpected friendship, Johanna is awakened to her innate strength and wisdom and becomes a silent heroine. Her unfailing love, optimism and kindness impact many who knew her, and eventually she foments the lifelong reconciliation of her two favorite people.

Dispersed throughout the book are historical factual events surrounding the extensive atrocities committed against the Jews in various countries, as well as the impact on society of two World Wars, the economic turmoil of the Great Depression and explores the continuing anti-Semitism that infects our world.