Jake is a young boy, who lives in New York with his mom, dad, brother named Peter, and his sister named Maija. The time is 1937, so it is now the time of the Great Depression. Jake's family is in the middle of tough times, and they are not very wealthy. His parents go to lectures that tell about better living in different parts of the world. His mom and dad decide to move to Russia in the hopes of a better education and better jobs. When they get to the place, they set up a saw mill, but they get too few logs to saw, so they get less pay. One day Jake and his dad make skis for their family. A man that lives in a richer, better town invites them to work instead at his ski shop. Jake's dad gets more money, and he is happier about this job. But, people around the neighborhood and town are getting arrested for no apparent reason! This is during the time of Stalin's secret police when lots of people are suspected of being spies and being disloyal to the Russian government. People are saying that the government is kidnapping people because they do not want any traitors or disloyal citzens. Soon Jake's brother and dad are arrested, all because he wrote some letters with new ideas for improvements. Jake's dad and brother are never brought back and Jake wants to find out what happened to his brother and dad, but at the same time he is afraid of being arrested himself. Will Jake get away from the town and will he get his dad and brother back, or will he and the rest of his family be doomed to the same unknown fate like so many?