Chapters 1-6 Summary and Analysis

In Chapter 1, the author introduces little Anna, a nine year-old Jewish girl living in Berlin in the winter of 1932-33. She has a brother named Max and her father is a famous writer and poet whose notoriety brings her family attention. It is winter and Anna, her school friend Elsbeth, Anna's brother Max and his friend Gunther walk home from school and play games. The chapter also introduces their house help, Fraulein Heimpel. At the end of the chapter, Anna speaks with her father before she goes to bed. In the morning he is gone. Germany is on the brink of an election between the Nazis and the Sozis. If the Nazis win, Hitler will come to power.

Chapter 2 opens in the morning. Anna is upset that she cannot find her father. Eventually Anna's mother explains to her and...