Child labor, as explained in a UNICEF report (1997), is a huge problem that affects the whole world, not just developing countries. Most children work on farms, plantations, or in homes, far away from labor inspectors and media investigations. Education is the key to keeping children away from dangerous jobs. Today, in developing countries, the number of children not attending school exceeds 400 million. Many of these children try to balance the demands of school and work, especially girls. Sophia, the little girl from the island, who entered the Polychroniadis family home to work, was an exceptional, gifted child. I don't know if it was just that which made things take a different turn than usual in these cases, or if the members of the Polychroniadis family, Yiannis, Angeliki, their three girls, Krinio, Maraki, and Vivi, even the new baby, were somewhat "responsible" because they couldn't see a "little servant" in a seven-year-old girl.... [Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]