Thirteen-year-old Jacob's life is hard in 1920s Poland, where he lives in an orphanage for Jewish children. His days are brightened by playing in the orphanage mandolin orchestra. When an American benefactor arrives with the promise of a new life in Canada at a Farm School--and even the dream of playing a benefit concert at New York's Carnegie Hall--Jacob and his friends are thrilled. But can they trust this man to keep his promises? The children travel by train and by ship, where a stow-away becomes dangerously sick. Jacob, who has become the orchestra's star mandolin player, must overcome his fears and doubts to help his friends face the challenges of their journey to this new life. Inspired by real events.