Book 1, Chapters 11-17 Summary

Karen tells Kitty her story. In 1938, she lives a wonderful life in Cologne as the daughter of the renowned Professor Johann Clement, and she cannot understand the frightening events changing German society, into which Jews are assimilated and where they have produced remarkable artists and scholars. Karen's pregnant mother, Miriam, begs to emigrate when Jews across Germany are assaulted, looted, murdered, arrested, deprived of all civil rights and made to wear distinctive yellow stars. Karen's playmates bloody her face, and the Gestapo arrests Johann, demanding he sign an oath denying his Jewish heritage. If he refuses, his family may emigrate, but he must remain as a hostage. When Miriam goes into premature labor and delivers at home, Johann races to Berlin to meet a young Ari Ben Canaan, overwhelmed trying to get people out. Angry at Johann's years of...