A young boy lives in a town that has been reduced to black-and-white rubble, but one day he sees a tiny green sprout of a plant. He cares for the plant, and it gives him hope and beauty in a time of darkness. Although the story is realistic about the horrors of war, it is not overly violent, making it suitable to read with children who have learned about war in school or who have questions about something they see on the news.