This heartbreaking book is about a girl named Mascha, who spends the summer with her grandparents. Normally she is forced to hang out with their elderly neighbors, but this summer she notices two new kids: Julie and Max. They seem to be hiding something though: Max talks angrily to imaginary friends, and Julie has bruises she's trying to hide. When Mascha confides her fears to her grandparents, they tell her to stay out of it. Mascha can't help herself. She's got to do something.

What Mascha does, which I leave spoiler-free, is perhaps not the best solution. I do not think it would be the reaction I would have either. However, my heart breaks for her because she's hoping she can do some good, but just going all the wrong ways about it.