Chapters 11 and 12 Summary

In Chapter 11, Sasha wakes up to the sound of someone scraping ice outside. He's late for school! He runs outside and manages to jump on the streetcar. The bumpy, rollicking ride makes Sasha laugh.

In Chapter 12, when Sasha gets to school, the kids are having a snowball fight in the schoolyard. Everyone wants Sasha on their team because he's a great marksman. Vovka Sobakin throws a snowball at Sasha and calls him "Amerikanetz" because of his mother. The kids all attack "Four Eyes," who is Borka Finkelstein. He wears glasses and reads a lot. He is the only Jewish kid in class. His parents were arrested and he lives with other relatives. Sasha refuses to throw snowballs at Borka. Vovka calls him a traitor and enemy of the people because he refuses to join in.

Borka picks up a snowball and...