the orphans of simitra
paul-jacques bonzon
Hardcover
(Criterion/EM Hale, March 15, 1967)
No matter how many months went by, Porphyras could not believe that his young sister, Mina, was dead. When their village in Greece, Simitra, was destroyed by an earthquake, the two orphans promised each other that they would never allow themselves to be separated. A generous family in Holland offered the Greek children a home, but Mina could never adjust to the lack of sunshine of their native land. When she disappeared, Porphyras, only thirteen, hunted for her in France, across Europe, facing many difficulties. He had two advantages. He grasped languages easily, and had a passion for repairing cars and could usually get a job in a gas station to maintain himself. It was a desperate search but with great determination and faith, he never gave up.