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Ch. 1-8 The Germans made all the Jews wear the Star of David armband to show their religion.

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Yanek's Literal Journey

Yanek and his family live in Krakow, Poland. But in just a blink of an eye, their city was invaded by the Germans beginning of WWII. For now, Yanek and his family remain in Krakow. For a little while they star in their flat with several other families. Anti-Semitic rules have been put in place that persecute Jewish people, taking away any rights they had. Over time, walls are built up around to contain the remaining Jews who have not been taken for resettlement or deportation yet. One by One many Jews were relocated to other Jewish Ghettos, work camps, and concentration camps, or were killed on site.

Yanek's Figurative Journey

With the stress of no food, and constant hiding, Yanek is living in fear of being caught by the Nazis. His emotional state is one of constant terror and panic at what awaits him at every turn. The unknown aspects of the war leaving a feeling of being unsettled. Yanek's early life as a 10 year old boy before the war was very normal. He attended school, played with his friends. and went to the synagogue with his family. He loves his Mom and Dad and look up to the as the war continues Yanek begins to doubt his fathers constant hopefulness and positivity and wonders who is really right- his father or Uncle Moshe. "I still worried he was wrong, but fresh bread made me forget all my troubles. For a little while, at least." (pg 25) Doubting your parents for the first time is a struggle for Yanek especially in war-torn Poland.

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Chapters 9-12 In chapter 9 Yanek is taken to his first concentration camp after surviving 2 years already. He's officially a prisoner.

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Yaneks Figurative Journey

In the beginning, his parents and later the rest of his family all get taken and killed during the resettlement of the Krakow ghetto while Yanek is only 13 years old. Then 2 years later he's taken at gunpoint as a prisoner and there's a lot of violence around him. But one light in this darkness is Uncle Moche. "But we only have one purpose now: survive. Survive at all costs, Yanek. We can not let these monsters tear us from the world." (pg70) Yanek takes this advice with him through the war.

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Wieliczka Salt Mine, Daniłowicza, Wieliczka, Poland

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Ch 13 This is an underground cathedral Yanek finds in the salt mine

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Wieliczka Salt Mine, Daniłowicza, Wieliczka, Poland

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Wieliczka Salt Mine, Daniłowicza, Wieliczka, Poland

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Yanek's Literal Journey

During the war, Yanek goes through a lot of darkness over the years. He hasn't seen any good in years, he then runs into a beautiful cathedral and realizes that there is still light through all the bad. This is good for him because it makes him belive that there is still hope for him and he should keep going to survive.

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Wieliczka Salt Mine, Daniłowicza, Wieliczka, Poland

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Ch 14 In this camp the guards were terrible, and just playing games with them.

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Yaneks Figurative Journey

During Yaneks time at Trzebinia, he was terrorized and filled with fear and anger. He started at the beginning of the chapter wanting to fight back, wanting to show the Nazis what the Jews could do. He was getting increasingly angry as the guards made them work to work, bolder to bolder. Another Jew had enough, he fought back. He was killed along with 6 other innocent people. Yanek learned his lesson. He then realized innocent people would be killed for what he would have done if he fought back. He then realized fighting back is not the way, the way is to survive.

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Birkenau, Ofiar Faszyzmu, Brzezinka, Poland

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Ch 16-18 This is the bus Yanek had to ride to his death.

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Birkenau, Ofiar Faszyzmu, Brzezinka, Poland

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Birkenau, Ofiar Faszyzmu, Brzezinka, Poland

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Literal Journey

Yanek had to ride a train for days. Throughout the ride, they got no food, water, or air. It was torture. As they were riding people started dying. Dead bodies were leaning against Yanek and he couldn't move them. In the middle of the ride, they were told they were going to a place that would kill them. This made Yanek go crazy. He didn't know what to do. All the pain and suffering was for nothing. Yet still he was fighting to survive. Kids his age mocking him throwing snowballs at him he was thankful because he could get a little water to help him live a little longer. Once they arrived at their deaths Yanek lost it. He then realized that dying wasn't bad. He wanted to die. Once he survived though, he couldn't be more happy.

Yaneks Figurative Journey

While Yanek was on his train ride for several days he started to go mad, with dead bodies leaning against him, and knowing he was going to be sent to death made him go crazy. He has lived for so long for what? The train came to a stop and boys his age maybe a little younger teased him and it made it worse. But when they arrived they had to wait and wait for hours and he knew what he was waiting for. Death. Later, the Jews were loaded into a room larger than the train so they had more room but still not much. Yanek was told if you go by the vents you would die quicker, easier. Yet he still went as far away, curled up into a ball, and started laughing. This was the lowest point of his life. Laughing in fear, in misery. But water came out. It was like a rebirth. He kept on living. He's still alive.

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Chapters 19-22 These are the gates the guards said you will only walk in through and never walk out.

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Yaneks Figurative Journey

When Yanek first arrived at the camp, one of the guards told him that the only way out was the chimneys. Meaning he will die in the gas chambers. But Yanek got the last laugh. He walked out of those gates. But it was not easy at Auschwitz. He made a fast friend, Fred. They had much in common including where they grew up, family, and age. Yanek enjoyed spending time with Fred he made him feel human again. But suddenly Fred was getting sick. He was becoming unable to work. He couldn't get out of bed. Yanek tried to help him out but he just got struck with a club by a guard. The guards beat Fred then dragged him out and brought him to be hung. Fred was hung in front of everyone including Yanek. This hurt Yanek but he couldn't show emotion because he can't stand out. Yanek would never forget Fred.

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Ch 23 This is a man doing the Sachsenhausen salute.

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Yanek's Figurative Journey

When Yanek arrives at Sachsenhausen, he was thankful he didn't have to work the first day because he was so tired he would have died. He was happy but soon that happiness came to an end when we realized all the games the guards played. He had to stand for hours and if they moved they had to do the Sachsenhausen salute. The salute is when you do an air squat with your arms out and if you move the guards will kill you. Yanek once had to miss his dinner to sing for the Nazi's entertainment. They had boxing matches and had to wrestle all for fun. Yanek could not stand this. He was going crazy. Yanek was a lucky one that got moved. He got on a train and hoped for the best.

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Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, Pater-Roth-Straße, Dachau-East, Germany

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Ch 29 This is the star of David which Yanek ripped off to try to be a Pole

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Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, Pater-Roth-Straße, Dachau-East, Germany

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Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, Pater-Roth-Straße, Dachau-East, Germany

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Yaneks Figurative Journey

As the Jews and Poles were separated, Yanek thought only one group would survive. Yanek was a Jew so he had to wear the Star of David badge. So, Yanek ripped off the badge to switch lines with the Jews and Poles so they couldn't tell the difference. Then one pole ratted him out. Yanek was distraught because he had no connection to the man whatsoever. He was lucky to survive. Once he was at the camp though Yanek was cramped between so many men. But once the morning came they were not woken by the SS officer. So they go outside to see where everyone is. There were no Nazis. Yanek didn't know what to feel or what to do. But then they saw soldiers coming their way. But they looked different. They were Americans. Some people ran and hid, some rushed towards them, and some like Yanek dropped to the floor. Yanek was feeling all kinds of emotions. An American helped him up and he just cried. It was the best moment of his life.

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Ch 30 Yanek was saved by the American soldiers. The war was over.

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Yanek's Literal Journey

Yanek was taken to Munich by the Americans. Yanek was saved. An American showed Yanek the bed he was supposed to sleep in, which had sheets, pillows, and a mattress. Yanek couldn't believe it. He even asked how many people he had to share it with. But he had it all to himself. During dinner, all the Jews, Poles, and Americans were eating together and everyone had the same full meal. Even the same as the soldiers. Yanek asked one prisinor to pass the salt and they all started crying tears of joy realizing how lucky they were. Then when Yanek returned to his hometown he saw his old neighbor and couldn't believe it. She told him about his serving cousins and he went to them. His cousins helped him tons and they sent him to America for a better life. Then his cousins also moved to America and he still got to visit them all the time. Life was good for Yanek.