When the war is finally over, Dounia is reunited with her mother, who is almost unrecognizable to her loving daughter. They wonder constantly about those who are no long with them. Dounia and her adoptive mother find security and happiness with Germaine, helping to do chores and meeting new people. Once again, she is led to safety this time in the countryside. The kind neighbors keep her as their daughter, until they hear that the police will return. Once they are gone, her parents arrested, a neighbor comes to rescue her. They tell her to stay right there until someone comes for her. When the Nazis come for her parents, they quickly hide Dounia in a cupboard in the bedroom cabinet.

Life becomes very difficult for the family. Also.why had Dad made up the story about sheriffs? There aren't any sheriffs in France.' 'I didn't understand how being a Jew made me different from the other girls in my class. She is teased and treated badly from that moment. She will soon learn that the star has branded her a Jew. Daddy is happy Mom not so. Mom sews the yellow stars on their clothes, and Dounia goes off to school the following day proudly displaying her sheriff's star. Upon arrival at home one day, she finds her parents talking about becoming 'a family of sheriffs'. She was soon to learn something quite different. So, Grandma tells Elsa about a life long ago in Paris in 1942, when the French considered the war ended.

She encourages Grandma to talk about it (just as her mother does if Elsa has a bad dream) and hopes that will make her feel better. A young child awakens to find her grandmother looking at photos and crying.

Hidden by Loïc Dauvillier