The Last Jews In Berlin
pages 167-191
Fritz Croner is in trouble. Well, I won't tell you what happened to him yet, another person is in even bigger trouble. Willy Glaser is 3 days away from deportation, and he tries to make a run for it. While the prisoners are exercising, he hops over a wall and runs as far away as possible-he's free, for now. Fritz wasn't as lucky. He was walking to a gem trader to make a deal, and a man with a gun told him to follow him. He took him to the police, and the officer, after the man left, said "One Jew brings another to the knife."
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Vocabulary-(5/16-5/20)
caricatures- a picture/description that exaggerates the peculiarities of someone/something
conflagrations- a destructive fire
incongruous- to be incompatible with
conflagrations- a destructive fire
incongruous- to be incompatible with
Reader's Response 2-(5/16-5/20)
The Last Jews In Berlin
pages 144-166
Yes, I will be continuing the one short story thing. Instead of Marushka and Hans Hirschel, this time, it's Fritz and Marlitt Croner and their baby, Lane. As you should have guessed by now, yes, keeping a baby "underground" is hard, but getting all the special food that Lane needs is even harder. Fritz is in the gem trade, and he had earned thousands of *marks* before going into hiding. This cash supply paid for the different safe apartments and houses that the Croners stayed in for a few days at a time. The Croners also knew that this money would run out soon. Marlitt works late at night, trying to get some extra money to be able to stay hidden longer. One night, she came home and knocked on the neighboring apartment's door. She quickly answered and whispered "The Gestapo are here." That was when they knew they couldn't go outside more than just going from one house to another or getting food, because they would be caught.
*a "mark" was basically a dollar bill for the Germans, but during WWII, the value of one mark was so low that a liter a of clean milk could be as much as 75 marks*
pages 144-166
Yes, I will be continuing the one short story thing. Instead of Marushka and Hans Hirschel, this time, it's Fritz and Marlitt Croner and their baby, Lane. As you should have guessed by now, yes, keeping a baby "underground" is hard, but getting all the special food that Lane needs is even harder. Fritz is in the gem trade, and he had earned thousands of *marks* before going into hiding. This cash supply paid for the different safe apartments and houses that the Croners stayed in for a few days at a time. The Croners also knew that this money would run out soon. Marlitt works late at night, trying to get some extra money to be able to stay hidden longer. One night, she came home and knocked on the neighboring apartment's door. She quickly answered and whispered "The Gestapo are here." That was when they knew they couldn't go outside more than just going from one house to another or getting food, because they would be caught.
*a "mark" was basically a dollar bill for the Germans, but during WWII, the value of one mark was so low that a liter a of clean milk could be as much as 75 marks*
Reader's Response 1-(5/16-5/20)
The Last Jews In Berlin
pages 121-143
This part of the book is when the characters are beginning to be captured (some more than others). Yet again, explaining each person's little story would take way too long, so I'm just going to tell one out of about five stories I read. Hans Hirschel lives with Maria von Maltzan, who he depends on for pretty much........everything. However, in return, he has to do all the household chores while she is at work. They are both Jewish, but Marushka (that's her nickname) is a countess, and everyone respects her, so she would never be deported. Hans is becoming more and more expensive to feed, so Maria has to work many extra odd jobs to keep up with rising food prices. Hans gets really bored sitting at home all day, every day, so Marushka buys a dog. He still doesn't seem happy to her, so she invites some fellow humans other than herself to the house to the party. Miraculously, Hans' fake name and profession hold up, and nothing goes wrong, or so we think so far.......
pages 121-143
This part of the book is when the characters are beginning to be captured (some more than others). Yet again, explaining each person's little story would take way too long, so I'm just going to tell one out of about five stories I read. Hans Hirschel lives with Maria von Maltzan, who he depends on for pretty much........everything. However, in return, he has to do all the household chores while she is at work. They are both Jewish, but Marushka (that's her nickname) is a countess, and everyone respects her, so she would never be deported. Hans is becoming more and more expensive to feed, so Maria has to work many extra odd jobs to keep up with rising food prices. Hans gets really bored sitting at home all day, every day, so Marushka buys a dog. He still doesn't seem happy to her, so she invites some fellow humans other than herself to the house to the party. Miraculously, Hans' fake name and profession hold up, and nothing goes wrong, or so we think so far.......
Friday, May 13, 2011
Readers Responses 1,2 and 3 from the week of 5/9-5/13
#1
Remember The Titans
(movie)
We watched this in TX History and it's just as good as any book. I think that it really describes the racial tensions after the Civil Rights Movement in depth and it's a great story. T.C. Williams High School has just been integrated (white and black school put together) and the coach of the football team isreplaced by an African-American coach and becomes the defensive coordinator. The team goes undefeated in the regular season, but a star player is paralized in a car accident, jeoparadizing the team's chances at the state championship. In the end, well, I can't tell you the end because I don't know if you've seen the movie, but I'm pretty sure you can guess the ending.
#2
The Last Jews In Berlin
pages 1-120
The first 120 pages are basically just a VERY long introduction to the lives of the Jews mentioned in the book. Their jobs, family homes, and how they got to where they are. Nothing has really happened yet, but there have been some really close calls. One of the characters in the book walked in his house when the Gestapo were about to seal the door. He opened it, tried to gather his belongings, but the officer was closing the door; death was closing in. He hit the Gestapo officer with his briefcase and ran for his life as he sprinted out the door.
#3
Super Structures Of The World-The Pentagon
pages 1-47
This is an interesting book that my older brother got for Christmas last year about the Pentagon. It's got so much information about all the different features of the Pentagon that it's hard to remember anything. However, I do remember the part where it talked about the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. It showed lots of shocking pictures of the building after the attack and I can't believe what it would've been like to have known what was going on, but I was only 3 at the time.
Remember The Titans
(movie)
We watched this in TX History and it's just as good as any book. I think that it really describes the racial tensions after the Civil Rights Movement in depth and it's a great story. T.C. Williams High School has just been integrated (white and black school put together) and the coach of the football team isreplaced by an African-American coach and becomes the defensive coordinator. The team goes undefeated in the regular season, but a star player is paralized in a car accident, jeoparadizing the team's chances at the state championship. In the end, well, I can't tell you the end because I don't know if you've seen the movie, but I'm pretty sure you can guess the ending.
#2
The Last Jews In Berlin
pages 1-120
The first 120 pages are basically just a VERY long introduction to the lives of the Jews mentioned in the book. Their jobs, family homes, and how they got to where they are. Nothing has really happened yet, but there have been some really close calls. One of the characters in the book walked in his house when the Gestapo were about to seal the door. He opened it, tried to gather his belongings, but the officer was closing the door; death was closing in. He hit the Gestapo officer with his briefcase and ran for his life as he sprinted out the door.
#3
Super Structures Of The World-The Pentagon
pages 1-47
This is an interesting book that my older brother got for Christmas last year about the Pentagon. It's got so much information about all the different features of the Pentagon that it's hard to remember anything. However, I do remember the part where it talked about the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. It showed lots of shocking pictures of the building after the attack and I can't believe what it would've been like to have known what was going on, but I was only 3 at the time.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Vocab: school week of 5/9-5/13
equanimity-mental or emotional stability or composure
authoritarianism-favoring complete obedience or subjection to authority as opposed to individual freedom
egalitarian-asserting, resulted form, or characterized by the equality of all people
authoritarianism-favoring complete obedience or subjection to authority as opposed to individual freedom
egalitarian-asserting, resulted form, or characterized by the equality of all people
Friday, April 8, 2011
-Vocab-4/4-4/8-
1. brusque-abrupt in manner; blunt; rough
2. putrid-in a state of decay or decomposition; rotten
3. truncheon-a club carried by a police officer (in this case, an S.S. officer)
2. putrid-in a state of decay or decomposition; rotten
3. truncheon-a club carried by a police officer (in this case, an S.S. officer)
Reader's Response 3 (school week of 4/4-4/8)
The Boy Who Dared
pg. 150-end of book (165) and Author's Notes
30 minutes
Helmuth, Rudi, _____ Duwer (totally forgot his first name), and Karl are now being transported to the highest, most feared court in all of Germany-the Blood Tribunal. Just judging by the name, Helmuth is in BIG trouble. And it turned out he was-Helmuth was sentenced to death, with Karl serving 5 years, Rudi-10, and ____ Duwer, 4 years. Helmuth is then executed, while his friends survived their prison terms and lived to tell the tale of the boy who dared.......
pg. 150-end of book (165) and Author's Notes
30 minutes
Helmuth, Rudi, _____ Duwer (totally forgot his first name), and Karl are now being transported to the highest, most feared court in all of Germany-the Blood Tribunal. Just judging by the name, Helmuth is in BIG trouble. And it turned out he was-Helmuth was sentenced to death, with Karl serving 5 years, Rudi-10, and ____ Duwer, 4 years. Helmuth is then executed, while his friends survived their prison terms and lived to tell the tale of the boy who dared.......
Reader's Response 2 (school week of 4/4-4/8)
The Boy Who Dared
pg. 120-150
30 minutes
Caught. Really, Helmuth??????? Not only did he listen to the shortwave radio (however he actually wasn't caught for that, despite my predictions), but he set up a whole network. He showed the radio to Karl and Rudi, and then brought them both in on a flier campaign to inform the public about what's really going on. Helmuth used the church typewriter to type up leaflets talking about the Hitler Youth, Rudolf Hess (high-ranking Nazi official who escaped Germany to have peace talks with Great Britain), and other things unknown to the general public. He was arrested, brought to a prison, and "interrogated" by the S.S. to the point where he admitted both to the leaflets and that he worked with Karl and Rudi. Things are getting very, very bad now.......
pg. 120-150
30 minutes
Caught. Really, Helmuth??????? Not only did he listen to the shortwave radio (however he actually wasn't caught for that, despite my predictions), but he set up a whole network. He showed the radio to Karl and Rudi, and then brought them both in on a flier campaign to inform the public about what's really going on. Helmuth used the church typewriter to type up leaflets talking about the Hitler Youth, Rudolf Hess (high-ranking Nazi official who escaped Germany to have peace talks with Great Britain), and other things unknown to the general public. He was arrested, brought to a prison, and "interrogated" by the S.S. to the point where he admitted both to the leaflets and that he worked with Karl and Rudi. Things are getting very, very bad now.......
Reader's Response 1 (school week of 4/4-4/8)
The Boy Who Dared
pg. 90-120
30 minutes
I can't believe that Gerhard was stupid enough to buy a shortwave radio!!! Helmuth's going to eventually get into his closet and use it. Then, the neighbors will hear the forbidden radio stations, report him, and they both will be killed! Even without reading on, you can tell that's what he'll do. So far, Helmuth's definitely not the brightest, but I do like that he stands up against the laws that Hitler has in place. If I lived back during World War Two in Germany, I would've probably broken at least one of the ridiculous laws they had, but not one of the easy to be busted for, the Radio Law!!!
pg. 90-120
30 minutes
I can't believe that Gerhard was stupid enough to buy a shortwave radio!!! Helmuth's going to eventually get into his closet and use it. Then, the neighbors will hear the forbidden radio stations, report him, and they both will be killed! Even without reading on, you can tell that's what he'll do. So far, Helmuth's definitely not the brightest, but I do like that he stands up against the laws that Hitler has in place. If I lived back during World War Two in Germany, I would've probably broken at least one of the ridiculous laws they had, but not one of the easy to be busted for, the Radio Law!!!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Reader's Response 3 (school week of 3/28-4/1)
The Boy Who Dared
pg. 61-90
30 minutes
Right now, there's really starting to be a lot of discrimination towards Jews. Hugo says that they deserve it, they are enemies of Germany, blah, blah, blah. Helmuth FINALLY understands what's going on and he's trying to avoid Hugo and the Nazi influence by skipping Hitler Youth meetings (yes, Hugo got him into that), staying at his grandparents' apartment, and so on. Also, Rudi and Helmuth are starting a detective agency, solving crimed=s for the Gestapo. If I was Helmuth, I wouldn't get close to the Nazis.
pg. 61-90
30 minutes
Right now, there's really starting to be a lot of discrimination towards Jews. Hugo says that they deserve it, they are enemies of Germany, blah, blah, blah. Helmuth FINALLY understands what's going on and he's trying to avoid Hugo and the Nazi influence by skipping Hitler Youth meetings (yes, Hugo got him into that), staying at his grandparents' apartment, and so on. Also, Rudi and Helmuth are starting a detective agency, solving crimed=s for the Gestapo. If I was Helmuth, I wouldn't get close to the Nazis.
Reader's Response 2 (school week of 3/28-4/1)
The Boy Who Dared
pg. 31-60
30 minutes
For some reason, Helmuth is considering going against the laws that are in place in Germany. I would be as stupid as to pretty much TRY to get killed-not my idea of fun. I think it's weird how whenever Helmuth has a question, he wakes up in the middle of the night and asks Gerhard. I don't know if the author is trying to create some kind of special bond between them (because they're arguing the rest of the book so far), but she definitely needs a new strategy. I also don't like how Hugo (guy that Helmuth's mom is engaged to) always is now butting in to everyday life when earlier, he wasn't mentioned at all. Hitler also seems to be getting into the school systems because now Helmuth's teacher is a Nazi and he won't accept anything but Nazi ideas. Helmuth asked a question about something that was being taught, and it ever so slightly opposed the lesson, so homework for the whole class was assigned. The homework, of course, is an essay on "How Hitler Has Made Germany Great". Definitely a school I wouldn't want to be in.
pg. 31-60
30 minutes
For some reason, Helmuth is considering going against the laws that are in place in Germany. I would be as stupid as to pretty much TRY to get killed-not my idea of fun. I think it's weird how whenever Helmuth has a question, he wakes up in the middle of the night and asks Gerhard. I don't know if the author is trying to create some kind of special bond between them (because they're arguing the rest of the book so far), but she definitely needs a new strategy. I also don't like how Hugo (guy that Helmuth's mom is engaged to) always is now butting in to everyday life when earlier, he wasn't mentioned at all. Hitler also seems to be getting into the school systems because now Helmuth's teacher is a Nazi and he won't accept anything but Nazi ideas. Helmuth asked a question about something that was being taught, and it ever so slightly opposed the lesson, so homework for the whole class was assigned. The homework, of course, is an essay on "How Hitler Has Made Germany Great". Definitely a school I wouldn't want to be in.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Vocab- school week of 3/28-4/1
Word #1-regime
What I Thought It Meant: group
What It Does Mean: a ruling or prevailing system
Word #2-liberal
What I Thought It Meant: ????????
What It Does Mean: favorable to progress or reform
Word #3-arpeggio
What I Thought It Meant: ????????
What It Does Mean: the notes of a chord played in rapid succession instead of simultaneously
What I Thought It Meant: group
What It Does Mean: a ruling or prevailing system
Word #2-liberal
What I Thought It Meant: ????????
What It Does Mean: favorable to progress or reform
Word #3-arpeggio
What I Thought It Meant: ????????
What It Does Mean: the notes of a chord played in rapid succession instead of simultaneously
Reader's Response 1 (school week of 3/28-4/1)
The Boy Who Dared
pg.1-30
30 minutes read
This is kind of an introductory part of the book. It explains what's going on and talks about the characters. Helmuth is around 8 years old right now and Hitler is running for chancellor. Then, there's a flash-forward to Helmuth in death row at a prison (the reason why is yet to be known), and back again. It then talks about when it was announced that Hitler had been elected, etc. Helmuth's mom and especially his grandparents are critical of Hitler, but he likes Hitler's policies. Helmuth is young (I guess, but he is almost our age), so I don't blame him. However, I'm pretty sure anyone these days (with so much information hanging around), nobody would be voting for him.
pg.1-30
30 minutes read
This is kind of an introductory part of the book. It explains what's going on and talks about the characters. Helmuth is around 8 years old right now and Hitler is running for chancellor. Then, there's a flash-forward to Helmuth in death row at a prison (the reason why is yet to be known), and back again. It then talks about when it was announced that Hitler had been elected, etc. Helmuth's mom and especially his grandparents are critical of Hitler, but he likes Hitler's policies. Helmuth is young (I guess, but he is almost our age), so I don't blame him. However, I'm pretty sure anyone these days (with so much information hanging around), nobody would be voting for him.
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