Summarizer:
Section 1 (P1-7)

Ruth goes to her uncle’s home to look for surviving members of her family, but finds his former maid wearing Ruth’s mother’s dress and claiming the house as her own.

Ruth finds city hall, where she finds no record of any of her relatives.  A handsome young man finds her on the city hall steps and says, “amcha” which she recognizes as a code word.  She trusts him immediately and he takes her to a house set up for refugees.  He wants her to go to Palestine.

Discussion Director:

Section 1 (P1-7)
MCEOG Question:
Ruth trusts the Sabra (whom we later know as Saul) because:
a. He is tall, handsome and smiling
b. He says, “Amcha”
c. He knows her family
d. He shows her an official badge
answer: B
(P7, p2) Sabra says the word “amcha”. (p3) It is explained that “amcha” is Hebrew word meaning “with the people” and is used as a code word among Jews as someone who can be trusted.

Problem/Solution:

Ruth wants to find members of her family.  What solutions does she try?  Were these solutions effective?

(P1, p3) She goes to Her Uncle’s house
(P4, 1st p) She goes to city hall to look for records
These solutions are not effective.

Prediction:
Ruth described herself and others like her as “…dirt that’s been left over from the war to be swept away whenever possible.  Dirt.”  Do you think she will always feel this way, and why?

No: I think she will realize she is a valuable person, because Sabra already believes in her.  I think he and his organization will be good for her

Fact: Ruth goes to city hall to try to locate members of her family.
(P3, last p & P 4, 1st p) I ask a number of people the way; many won’t answer me, but I finally reach the city hall…
(P4, p9) We try every family name I can think of.

Opinion: (P7, p4) Ruth feels that no one needs her and that (p7) Hiltler has beaten her by probably taking all her family.  Perhaps she is being punished for being the bad child of the family.

.

Passage Picker:

Section 1 (pages 1-7)
(P28, top)
(P23, p 2-8) A little girl…my first one.  I like this because it shows that this little girl knows exactly how to find out if Ruth can understands her, she is “Satisfied with her answers”.
I think the author’s purpose is to inform the reader that many, many children had terrible experiences, not just a few.
 
 

1.  (P3, p3) “Smoke endlessly…burned”
  This passage is important because it helps the reader understand part of what Ruth was going through, to think that her mother and sister’s ashes could be falling on her, but not knowing.  The author’s purpose was to help the reader identify with Ruth.

2. (P3, p4) “I hate these…least expect it.”
 I liked the simile, “they jump at me as a ghost in a graveyard.”  I think it is interesting that Ruth used to frighten her brothers and sisters (last of P2) with tales of graveyards and the walking dead.  The author’s purpose was to inform the reader of Ruth’s state of mind

Character Sketcher:

Section 1(P1-7)

The Sabra (Saul):
Encouraging (P7, p7) The Sabra tells Ruth, “I don’t want to hear you talk like that again.  You’ve survived.  You’ve beaten the Nazi’s.  You’ve ruined their plans to kill all the Jews.  And now we need you in Palestine.”  He is trying to give her a reason to believe in herself. Also (P4, p8) “You don’t seem all that weak to me.”

Patient:  Ruth is squeezing his hand (P5, p7), but he doesn’t seem to mind.

Concerned for others: (P7, p4) He has left his safe home to come help other Jews immigrate.

The Sabra’s goal is to talk Ruth into going to Palestine.

His problem is that Ruth feels worthless.  A possible solution is for him to keep being patient and encouraging, and to give her responsibilities.

Word Wizard:
section 1 (pages 1-7)

Illuminating (P1,p3) “…the silver candlestick would glean as mother lit the silver candles, illuminating china, the fresh flowers, and our faces all scrubbed and clean waiting patiently…”
 This means to light up, or cause to glow.  It is a verb (action).
They were illuminating the living room with candles because the power went out.

            
Ghetto: (P3, p2) Soon we were forced into a ghetto, a small, run-down section of Ostroviec with all the other Jews of the area.
A ghetto is a section of a city that is often run-down and over-crowded usually where minorities live.  This is a noun (place).
If my father loses this job, we may have to live in the ghetto, where the rent is cheaper.
             
Crematoria:  (P3, p3) “Perhaps it was their ashes that fell on me later in the day, as the ovens and crematoria of Auschwitz blazed and burned.”
Crematoria are laces were human bodies are burned.  This is a noun (place; thing) and plural.
As burial plots become harder to find, more crematoria are built.
        
Suffocate: (P4, last p) “I feel I’m going to suffocate.”
To die from not being able to breathe.  It is a verb (action).
Children should not play with plastic bags because they may suffocate if they put them over their heads.