Most of the location of the book was set in Poland in a small village of Urzejowice. Many times the family wasn't stationary because they moved from place to place looking for a new home. The village Urzejowice has a population of about 1800 people as of October 13, 2010. It's region is subcarpathian voivodeship. During the time period in Urzejowice the leader of that country was Wladyslaw Rackiewicz. He was a foe to Hitler. Since Hitler was in charge during this time period, the characters in the novel were highly affected by Nazi invasion. They were forced out of their home and had to go in hiding in a small, cramped attic for more than two years.