During the sweltering summer of 1922, as Greece clashed with Turkish Anatolia, young Nikolas found himself nestled in the airy embrace of Kifissia, a posh enclave on the outskirts of Athens, under the watchful eye of his mother, the Villa Pandora’s caretaker. The serenity that enveloped their world was suddenly disrupted by the arrival of the Averys, an American family settling into the opulent villa. Shortly thereafter, the enchanting Madame Arnauld made her entrance, accompanied by her daughters Nadine and Stephanie, along with their enigmatic Greek "uncle," as they moved into the neighboring villa.

Overflowing with youthful exuberance and yearning for escapades, these five spirited children conceived a clandestine fellowship named the Pallikars, inspired by the brave souls who had once fought for liberty during the Greek War of Independence. Their secret endeavors, or "seeds," enacted in Desperanto, their whimsical invented tongue, started out as mere play until the grave shadows of war began to seep into their sanctuary, unraveling the tranquility of their idyllic suburb.

As the Pallikars slowly unmasked the dire face of genuine hardship, they resolved to exert themselves in whatever way possible to alleviate the unfolding turmoil. The Refugee Summer unfolds as a touching and beautifully crafted narrative, replete with potent anti-war messages and precise societal reflections, while offering a rare window into the fleeting innocence of a young boy on the brink of confronting life’s stark truths.