"This novel is based on the true story of two Russian families who fled Russia on the brink of mandatory conscription announced by Putin on September 21, 2022. They didn't want to participate in the war with Ukraine. They didn't want their 20-year-old sons to kill Ukrainians. They didn’t want to listen to propaganda day in and day out. So, they slipped out of Russia in the nick of time. Their incredible odyssey lasted 4 months, marked by unbelievable twists and turns, sacrifices and triumphs, gains and losses. They left behind their jobs, their homes, and their friends in Saint Petersburg. They didn't have any money beyond the first 2 weeks of their journey. They didn't have any work or a place to stay. Only one of the nine spoke English. They traveled over 20,000 miles across the globe without knowing what the next day would bring."-- Back cover.