Merely Alive

About the Book

In Denmark, in the midst of World War II, thirteen-year-old Maya is injured—shot by a Nazi—when her city is bombed. Worse, her four-year-old sister, Elana, is killed. Her parents, resistance fighters, are determined to keep her safe, and so they send her to live with their close friends, the Coffmans, including Maya’s friend Rose and Rose’s older brother, Greg. As Maya settles in with the Coffmans, she and Rose go for a walk, with Greg tagging along. While out, they encounter the very same Nazi who shot Maya—and he recognizes her as the Jewish girl he shot only a few days before. Believing all three children to be Jewish, he and his fellow soldiers capture them and send them to Auschwitz. Now Maya, Rose, and Greg must figure out how to escape and return home again. On their journey, they’ll face many deadly obstacles and undergo adventure, love, and loss. Can their courage and strength see them through the brutality of war?

About the Author

Lalae Mozie started writing Merely Alive at the age of nine while spending some time traveling around Europe, visiting many World War II sights, including Auschwitz. Now twelve, Lalae enjoys writing, acting, and playing sports.