By the time the reader get to chapter 5, the Blumenthals have been shifted from one refugee camp to another. Marion was very uncomfortable being separated from her parents and sleeping with strange children. She would often cry herself to sleep at night. Ruth stayed busy doing work, such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for the children. This was the only way she knew she could take care of Marion to ease her worries. The author goes into discuss more about the living conditions. At first it wasn't bad the family had a decent 3 room apartment like area, but when more Jews were brought to the camp site, the family had to move into just one room. Marion talked about what she would do to help pass time, and talked about being greedy when it came to sweet foods. It was pretty much like survival of the fittest. You had to hoard as much food as possible. The war continued on and everyone hoped for a end soon.
In chapter 6, the family and many other Jews were placed in cattle cars to be shipped out. When they first were loaded in the cars, they waited 6 days before the train ever moved from Bergen. Luckily they did not have to stay in the cars the entire time, they were allowed to get off during the day and walk around, and look for food. Then the journey began many people died of diseases and were thrown off the cars. The other Jews who were still living were made to throw off the dead bodies and dig shallow graves along side the train tracks to bury them. The author went on to further explain the conditions that her family was put through. By the end of chapter 6 the family had been on the death train for exactly two weeks.
Some teaching aspects I would use with my students for these chapters would be to map out the route the train took. Also, I would have them make a journal entry about how they think they would feel if they were in Marion shoes aboard this death train. Then if students wanted to they could share what they had written.
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