The story in Stones in Water is set during World War II, in the early 1940s.

When Roberto sneaks off to see a movie in his Italian village, he has no idea that life as he knows it is over. German soldiers raid the theater, round up the boys in the audience, and pack them onto a train. After a terrifying journey, Roberto and his best friend Samuele find themselves in a brutal work camp, where food is scarce and horror is everywhere. The boys vow to stay together no matter what. But Samuele has a dangerous secret, which, if discovered, could get them both killed.

A tragic, triumphant, and deeply moving story showing how courage, loyalty, and hope can endure even in the darkest circumstances.