Pages 41 - 60 Summary and Analysis

On Saturday, May 2, 1992, Zlata writes about the worst day yet. Heavy shelling forces the family into the basement. Zlata's father learns that the president has been kidnapped and that the local post office was set on fire. Later, Zlata watches the flames devour the post office.

The next day, Zlata's father goes to check on Zlata's grandparents, who thankfully are okay. Touring the town, Zlata sees the devastation of busted buildings and cars.

The family rearranges the furniture in the home, because both bedrooms have windows that face the hills where the majority of gunfire comes from. So now the family sleeps in the same room on mattresses on the floor. Zlata learns of some people who were wounded, including a neighbor named Jaca. A schoolgirl Zlata's own age, Nina, died after shrapnel lodged in her brain.

Another night...