Almost overnight Simone's personal childish struggles become dangerous open confrontations with a system bent on conformity. Just as she is reaching adolescence, swirling forces of social and political change begin to threaten her world. For refusing to submit, Simone and her parents bear the full brunt of Nazi anger. She finds her cherished beliefs under attack as the Nazis and their supporters tear apart her world piece by piece.

"Who does not bend must be broken", she told time and again. Her parents are sent to concentration camps and Simone to a Nazi "re-education" home for two years of slave labor, ritual humiliation, and pain.

While making no secret of her frailties and weaknesses, Simone's story is one of inspiring courage and indomitable hope. From her we learn that ordinary humans, youth included, can find the strength to cling to and act according to their values despite immense negative pressure. We learn that we can be confident in our own ability to face and triumph over the "lions" in our lives.