Anyone who has experienced the upheaval and sadness that comes with leaving the place one calls home will appreciate the charm and candor of this heartfelt family tale. For young Memo, the concept of "home" is particularly significant since he is a Kurd, a minority constantly in search of a homeland. Memo's happy village life is changed forever when his father, hearing of nearby villages being destroyed, decides to take his family to a basement apartment in Holland for safety. In protest-and perhaps even unable to voice the anguish he feels-Memo stops talking. But with the help of a new friend, a seemingly hostile urban environment gradually becomes a world of new opportunities and a safe haven.