World War II was a tragic time in history when millions of people lost their lives in a war that caused so much destruction. During the war the Jewish population of Warsaw, Poland were persecuted and killed for their identity as Jews. In Jerry Spinelli’s Milkweed, we are shown a glimpse of the past during the horrors of World War II through the lives of three fictional characters Misha, Janina and Uncle Shepsel. During the war the Jewish people living in Warsaw, Poland were stripped of their identity and were treated as less than human beings for what they believe in. In a time when your identity could be the only difference between life and death, Misha struggles to find his true identity. All Misha has ever known is the names others
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Janina Milgrom was a Jewish girl living with her family Warsaw, Poland. Janina was just a girl who wanted pickled eggs and easily got frustrated and upset. When she first met Misha she was an innocent little girl and knew what she wanted. When Misha asked if she was a Jew and then replied “ Yes, but I’m not supposed to tell anyone”(33). She revealed her secret, even though her father told her not to. When her family is forced to move into the ghetto she wanted to sneak out with Misha to steal food but was reckless not caring if she put her and Misha’s lives at risk. “ She swept a large coffee can from a shelf. It crashed to the floor. I balled my fist in front of her face. “ Stop it. They’re going to hear””(125). Later on in the book her mother dies from the harsh conditions and this takes a significant toll on Janina. She soon loses all hope and transforms to this sad little girl who is “...sitting potato faced on the floor. She hadn’t smiled since the burning cow. “ Janina has lost her happy””(158). In the end when the Jackboots are clearing out the ghettos and transporting them to the death camps, Janina becomes captured because of her recklessness, which led to her assumed death. The war destroyed this little girls life and took away her
Janina Milgrom was a Jewish girl living with her family Warsaw, Poland. Janina was just a girl who wanted pickled eggs and easily got frustrated and upset. When she first met Misha she was an innocent little girl and knew what she wanted. When Misha asked if she was a Jew and then replied “ Yes, but I’m not supposed to tell anyone”(33). She revealed her secret, even though her father told her not to. When her family is forced to move into the ghetto she wanted to sneak out with Misha to steal food but was reckless not caring if she put her and Misha’s lives at risk. “ She swept a large coffee can from a shelf. It crashed to the floor. I balled my fist in front of her face. “ Stop it. They’re going to hear””(125). Later on in the book her mother dies from the harsh conditions and this takes a significant toll on Janina. She soon loses all hope and transforms to this sad little girl who is “...sitting potato faced on the floor. She hadn’t smiled since the burning cow. “ Janina has lost her happy””(158). In the end when the Jackboots are clearing out the ghettos and transporting them to the death camps, Janina becomes captured because of her recklessness, which led to her assumed death. The war destroyed this little girls life and took away her