
By Margaret Wild, Freya Blackwood (Illustrator)
A boy flees war with a mysterious treasure, seeking hope and survival.
As war devastates their home, Peter and his father escape with a mysterious treasure box, more valuable than gold. Through harsh journeys, survival becomes paramount, yet Peter never forgets the box. Years later, he returns, driven by hope and the power of stories. What secrets does the treasure hold, and can it restore what was lost? This poignant tale explores resilience and the enduring spirit of humanity amidst chaos.
A moving and ultimately hopeful look at what we hold most dear – and carry with us – when we are forced to flee our homes because of war. When the enemy bombs the library, everything burns, and only one book survives. As war rages around them, Peter and his father, alongside so many refugees, flee their home, taking with them a treasure box that holds something rarer than rubies and more precious than gold. They journey through mud and rain and long cold nights, and soon survival becomes more important than any possession. But as the years go by, Peter never forgets the treasure box, and one day he returns to find it. This moving story from celebrated author Margaret Wild is illustrated with Freya Blackwood’s subtly affecting artwork, which incorporates pages of children’s books in translation. The result is a haunting and beautiful tale of the power of stories and the resilience of the human spirit.
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