# data[].attributes.body
During this scene, Frau Müller, the landlady of an apartment that Michael and Mamishu are renting, comforts Michael after he was assaulted. Despite her support of Nazism, she is kind towards Michael (being a Jew). This is significant because it shows that not all Nazis are as intolerant towards Jews as they seem. I wonder if this encounter changes Michael’s and Mamishu’s view on Nazis as a whole. In addition, I am curious to know what upbringing Frau Müller had, and if it had anything to do with her acceptance of Jews while still endorsing Nazis.

# data[].attributes.body
While Mamishu and Michael are staying in Germany during their journey to America, they stay in a displaced persons camp. The two overhear a conversation between two women discussing a suicide that happened earlier that day. One woman supports the choice of dying, since everyone in the victim’s family died. Contrarily, the other female thinks that surviving the Holocaust is a “second chance” to live, and believes the suicide victim was absurd to kill herself. This scene is significant because it shows the depression and loneliness that one can feel after such a traumatic experience. As well as this, the argument displays the difference in thoughts of living and moving on after going through the loss of a loved one. I wonder if this conversation changes Mamishu’s outlook on life, since she has lost both her husband and oldest son.

# data[].attributes.body
In this scene, before Mamishu left Żarki, she traveled back to her old home to retrieve riches that Israel had buried underground before the family was forced to relocate. Although she was disappointed to find that the banknotes and gold were stolen, the Bornstein kiddush cup was left behind. Through Mamishu’s eyes, this possession was most important – even though it had little monetary value. This passage is significant since it displays the deep faith that Mamishu has for her religion. I made a connection with this to life today in the United States, where wealth is commonly more important than religion. I wonder if Michael will recognize what this cup is, since he was too young to remember Shabbat ceremonies that his family participated in.

# data[].attributes.body
At this point in the book, Michael and Bobeshi, Michael’s grandmother, are freed from the concentration camp and return to Żarki to live in their old home. When they opened the door, they were addressed by a non-Jew who occupied the space. Bobeshi informed her of her son, Israel, who previously owned the house, though she was immediately shunned and dismissed by the woman. This passage is significant because it conveys the change that has come to Żarki since the beginning of the Holocaust. The once Jewish-friendly town of Żarki was now a place where Jews were treated as aliens. This scene makes me wonder how Bobeshi and Michael will be treated in town, and if they will have anywhere to live. If they must leave, where will they travel to?

# data[].attributes.body
After Michael’s family was moved to an ammunition camp in Pionki, Mamishu and Papa decided to resume teaching Michael and his brother, Samuel. Papa gathers ordinary objects from around his home to act as tools to teach the boys. This scene took me by surprise because I did not expect Michael’s parents to be conscious of their boys’ need for education after everything that has happened. By including this scene, the importance and necessity that Sophie and Israel feel for their children being educated is displayed. While both of them are working every day at a factory to survive, they still come home each night and have the determination to properly educate their kids. As well as this, it shows that the two parents want to integrate some normalcy into their children’s lives, after the tragic events that have happened. This part in the story sparks the question of how long Michael’s and Samuel’s parents will be able to give them the luxury of education. From background on the story, I know that the Bornstein family is forced to a concentration camp, so that leads me to wonder how soon will that happen.

# data[].attributes.body
Officer Schmitt has now forced all of the Jewish citizens of Żarki in a synagogue to wait for transportation to take the families to a ghetto at Radomsko. From the news of people being transported outside of their home, Michael’s family knew that they would be going to a concentration camp. Mamishu feels terrible regret for keeping her family here and waiting to be killed. This part in the story also shows the traumatic events that Samuel and Michael had to go through at such young ages. This scene is suspenseful because it makes me wonder if Michael’s family will go to the ghetto, be forced elsewhere, or die during the journey.

# data[].attributes.body
During this part in the story, Michael’s father bribes a German officer named Schmitt in favor of Żarki’s safety. Schmitt’s level of intolerance seems to lower as Israel shows him the banknotes. Soon after Papa gives Schmitt the money, the guards that were terrorizing the citizens of Żarki suddenly leave. I find this scene shocking because the Nazi officer was taking money and obeying a Jew’s orders, which was extremely illegal at the time. This exchange shows that no matter who you are and what rank you hold in society, wealth surpasses everything. I wonder if in the future, Israel will use more funds to bribe Schmitt for the town’s needs.

# data[].attributes.body
This scene is when Michael and his family were celebrating Passover. When they were about to begin eating, a loud banging noise on the front door startled everyone. This excerpt is interesting because the adults instinctively hid all of the evidence that they were Jewish when they heard the sound. At this point in the book, the Jews in Żarki are so used to hiding their religious identity from people. This also shows how Michael’s family has a routine for what to do when a German shows up. I wonder if Michael’s family gets caught when they open the door.

# data[].attributes.body
At this part in the book, Israel, as well as every other Jewish man in Żarki, are in a synagogue to spend the night, ordered by the German Soldiers to do so. Israel had just finished a day of strenuous activity– digging a drainage hole under the Nazis’ orders. This passage is significant because it gives insight to the readers about what happened during the Holocaust and how brutal Nazis were towards Jews. In addition, I wonder if Israel will be allowed to return home to his family. This adds suspense to the writing since Michael and the rest of his family may never be able to see Israel again.

# data[].attributes.body
This part of the story is when Mamishu is going to visit her parents to see how they are doing. On her way there, she sees a familiar family being shouted at by a German soldier. They are naked, and the child, three years old, is sobbing near her mother and father. I chose this passage because it is the first time Mamishu saw something truly cruel done by the Nazis. In the past, Mamishu and her family have given Germans their valuables and have continuously been treated as lower class, though Mamishu has never witnessed anything so violent until this moment. This passage makes me wonder if this is just the start of these acts of violence and intolerance towards the Jews in Michael’s community. Also, I am curious to know if something similar to this is going to happen to Michael’s family.