Nicolae Ceausescu
Who is Nicolae Ceausescu?
He is a Romanian dictator that controls the country.
Who is Cristian Florescu?
Cristian is the main character that the story is focused on.
Who is Liliana Pavel?
Liliana is Cristian's next-door neighbor and really likes Cristian.
Who is Bunu?
Bunu is Cristian's grandfather.
Who is Dan?
Dan is an American citizen who is traveling to Romania with his family.
Why is Nicolae Ceausescu so bad?
He forces Romanian citizens to follow unethical rules and live on very little food.
What is a big conflict in Cristian's life?
Cristian is forced to be an informer, which is basically betraying his family.
What does Liliana believe Cristian has done?
She believes that Cristian has informed on her, although this is false.
What makes Bunu unique among Romanians?
Bunu makes jokes and is more carefree, unlike Romanian citizens that are scared to even talk at a normal level.
What does Dan get from being in Romania?
Dan is writing his college essay about Romania.
How has Nicolae Ceausescu outfox the other surrounding nations?
Ceausescu has kept Romania's condition more secretive than other communist-supported countries.
Why is Cristian an informer?
He needs medicine for Bunu, who is very sick.
What does Liliana realize in the middle of the book?
As she is eavesdropping on Luca and Cristian, she realizes that Cristian did not inform on her.
What does Bunu find out about Cristian?
Bunu realizes that Cristian is an informer.
What does Dan look forward to?
He looks forward to going back to America.
What has Nicolae Ceasescu done to Romania?
He has made Romania a shell of its former self, with barren streets and very little food.
What does Cristian plan to do with his notebook?
He plans to turn it into Dan's father to show how horrible Romania's condition is.
What does Liliana's father get accused of?
What happens to Bunu?
Bunu is beat to death by the Securitate.
When does Dan get to go home to the U.S?
He gets to go home for Christmas with his mom.
Who is Nicolae Ceausescu's wife?
His wife is Elena Ceausescu, who rules with him.
Why is Cristian jealous of Dan?
Dan is himself, while Romanian citizens are tight and afraid to break rules.
How does Liliana express her hate for Cristian when she thinks he has betrayed her?
She sends him a letter describing her feelings.
What is Bunu's sickness?
Bunu's sickness was thought to be leukemia, but it was actually the Securitate poisoning his coffee.
What does Dan not realize about Cristian?
He doesn't realize that Cristian is an informer and is taking advantage of going into the American library with Dan.