When Gretel Was Fifteen

A teenage girl living with American relatives attends a small boarding school as her country enters a distant war, and tensions over national loyalty surface among pupils and teachers. She clings to memories of her late father's cultural heritage and a sympathetic foreign-born instructor, while classmates express conflicting opinions that test friendships. School life—holidays, outings, and a summer visit—gives way to a sudden summons that forces difficult choices; a subsequent episode of separation and uncertainty culminates in reunion and a safe return. The story examines identity, loyalty, and coming of age amid wartime strain.