India lives in a large, luxurious house with a mom she can¡¯t stand and a dad she adores, although he hasn¡¯t had much time for her recently. She seeks solace in her journal, which she keeps in sincere imitation of her heroine, Anne Frank.

Treasure lives on the low-income council estate with her loving and capable grandmother. She is devoted to her nan but lives in fear of having to go back to live with her mother and violent stepfather. A chance meeting sparks a great friendship between the girls, and so when Treasure has to run away to avoid her stepfather, India comes up with a hiding place inspired by her favourite author. India doesn¡¯t have a real Secret Annexe but she does have a hidden attic.