"I opened my eyes to the world in the middle of a war. I didn't know exactly where the middle of the war was, but my mother always used to say, 'I gave birth to you in the middle of a war.'"

The date is April 23, 1920. There is hardly room to step in front of the Grand National Assembly building. Behind the bustling crowd, a small stall catches the eye. Tending to it is a child selling sherbet. Does he have a mother? Is his father still alive? When the homeland is exhausted, the people are impoverished, and all hope seems lost, how does a child navigate life?

Beloved and prolific children's author Şermin Yaşar transports readers to the turbulent years of the Turkish War of Independence, experienced entirely through the innocent yet observant eyes of a young street vendor. Accompanied by the delicate and evocative illustrations of Gökçe Akgül, readers will witness the national mobilization, the days of deep deprivation, the societal transformation, and the hope that slowly begins to blossom in the footsteps of the great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Furthermore, enriched by the historical insights of İlber Ortaylı—one of the greatest names in Turkish historiography—this book invites us all to stand together and welcome the very first dawn of the Republic.