Ninette Dreyfus's diary, now the centerpiece of the book 'Ninette's War: A Jewish Story of Survival in 1940s France', chronicles the harrowing unraveling of her family and French society during the Nazi occupation. The Dreyfus family, prominent in Parisian Jewish circles, experienced a dramatic shift from privilege to persecution as antisemitic laws under the Vichy regime stripped them of their rights, livelihoods, and safety. Through Ninette's youthful perspective, the book reveals both the gradual realization of danger and the family's acts of resistance, including Edgar Dreyfus's refusal to comply with discriminatory regulations and their eventual escape across the Pyrenees into Spain.

The story is reconstructed by journalist John Jay using Ninette's diary, family papers, and interviews, capturing the psychological toll and resilience of the family amid betrayal by their own countrymen. The narrative also highlights moments of solidarity and courage, such as the assistance from non-Jewish friends who helped the Dreyfus family evade Nazi capture. Ultimately, the book reflects on the profound sense of loss and disillusionment felt by French Jews, as well as the enduring impact of survival and memory.