Everything is about to change for John, a 13-year-old boy who goes to live and work on a Mennonite neighbor's farm during WWII. John's father is fighting in Europe, and John finds himself impatient with Sarah, a daughter of the family, who doesn't believe in war. To make matters worse, a group of German prisoners of war arrives to work on the farm. John always keeps a sketch pad handy for drawing whenever he has a spare moment. How can John remain loyal to his father and hold onto his anger at the enemy when a POW begins to encourage his art, noticing John's talent in a way no one ever has before? Unexpectedly, his drawings force him to make difficult decisions involving POWs, his father, and his dreams.