A
What figurative language is this? I clung to it like it was a precious jewel.
simile
What country is the book set in?
Poland
What historical event is going on in the story?
The Holocaust / WW2
What is a bar mitzvah and why was it important?
It is a Jewish tradition where a boy becomes a man. It is important because it was a sign of hope and rebellion that they were still on the right path and would end up in Heaven even if their lives were terrible.
Why did people avoid the clinics?
people didn't come back
Name the figurative language: my heart lept at every little sound
personification
What were the Nuremberg Laws?
laws that stripped Jews of their citizenship, made them have a curfew, stopped them from using the library, having a job, going to the movies, or going to school.
What was the name of the uncle that ended up at the first camp with Yanek?
Uncle Moshe
Why were the barracks at Birkenau terrible? Arguably worse than most other pergatory like camps.
They had their heads shaved to resemble each other (stripping away who they are as individuals and for more strict/Hasidic Jews it was sacriligious) The ground was like a swamp- wet and thick with mud. There were no floors in the barracks. There was no heat or electric light either. Bunks were shelves and prisoners were pushed super close together. There was only wet hay- no pillows, no blankets, no mattresses. They only had 2 bathroom barrels for 500 people
What happened to Uncle Moshe? Why?
Amon shot him because Uncle Moshe was in charge of a group of people on work duty. When he asked them what they had gotten done and why it was so little, he didn't like Moshe's answer and killed him.
Name the figurative language:out of this nightmare that swallowed my parents and everyone I loved
personification
What lies did the Nazis tell the new prisoners to the camps?
There will be a new Jewish nation, work sets you free, they would get their luggage back in time/ their stuff would be distributed among the jews
Describe the commander at the first camp, Amon Goeth.
He is a crazy man who enjoys murdering people. They literally have a daily death count for him. He enjoys sniping people off his porch & uses his dogs to murder people.
Why was BIII called Mexico? what did it hold?
It gave them a place to escape mentally. It housed all the things they brought with them to the camp.
When the war was going well, how did Jews go from one camp to the other?
Trains
Where do you find kapos?
Kapos are found in concentration camps
What is a musselman?
A prisoner who is very weak/sick/starving and has lost all hope
How did Yanek make friends with Fred?
They shared bread from a dead guy & then realized they were from the same area and had played in some of the same places.
What was held at Canada?
It was storage for food, coffee, and other things to maintain people.
Where did Yanek and his family hide? Why?
In a bird coop on the roof of the building. It was a good way for them to be able to hide without people really realizing they were there.
What is the difference between kapos and judenrats?
Kapos tended to be criminals who were made to be in charge of prisoners in concentration camps. Judenrats were prominent Jewish leaders forced to be a go between the Nazis and the Jews.
What were signs the war was going bad?
Allied planes started flying over them more frequently. Bombs were getting closer. The war was spreading to Germany and Poland. Prisoners were being killed more frequently in some cases, yet were granted more mercies from some of the soldiers. They had fewer supplies. They were forced to go on death marches.
Why did Yanek tell people to lie about their age and trade?
If you didn't say you were 18 with a trade and able to work, you often went straight to a death chamber.
Describe the Witch of Buchenwald.
She was also a psycho. She didn't go around shooting people like Amon, but she did enjoy killing Jews to collect their tattoos. She would have them killed and keep their tattoos- She also had a love of animals and created a zoo where she treated the animals well
Describe the Death Marches
People were walking around in linen uniforms freezing, with either wooden shoes (possibly with socks), just socks, or literally nothing on their feet. They would be forced to walk over 300 miles on a half a loaf of bread and weren't really granted much rest. When they did stop at night, they had to make dog piles to stay warm. If they were too slow, they were shot. The temps were so bad people were literally freezing to the ground at times.