There is no school. You don't see your friends. You've read all your books. You daren't play your piano because it is in the room which faces the snipers. You're growing out of all your clothes and shoes.
People keep getting killed.
And you don't know how long this is going to go on for. Zlata was living in Sarajevo with her parents in 1991 when the civil war began to close in around her. Slowly, slowly, the commentary in her diary slides from chat about her life at school and weekend 'sleepovers' with her friends, to the political stirrings in the country round about her. Over the next few months Zlata has to face up to a lot. The shelling of Sarajevo starts, and many of Zlata's friends and relations pack up and leave to begin their lives as refugees.