Torn Thread

I loved this book because of the main character, and how the story pushes readers to think about tough issues and overall broaden their perspectives. The story is told through the viewpoint of Eva, a twelve year old Jewish girl who is fighting to keep herself and her older sister alive during the

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Holocaust. Eva suffers many traumatic experiences and events throughout the story, that only turn her into a stronger individual. First Eva lost her mother due to illness, then she was forced to leave her home and live in the ghetto, next she had to leave her father and go to a labor camp, and finally she had to learn to survive each day in the horrible work camp. I found Eva’s character to be very hardworking, brave and caring. For example Eva arrived at the labor camp without having any food to eat for three days. Immediately, she was forced to walk many miles to a factory wearing broken shoes, then stand for twelve hours working at a machine, while only receiving a five minute break. During the whole day Eva listened to the Nazi guard’s verbal abuse, and knew her life could come to an end at any moment. Although Eva was exhausted, she continuously fought to survive each day and always believed in reuniting once again with her father. I thought Eva was very caring when she offered to give up her rations of food to her sister Rachel because she was sick. Whenever Eva felt like she could not keep going, she would still encourage Rachel to wake up, walk to the factory, and always stay alert. Eva was also never selfish and always put her sister first, “Eva had been bartering her knitting for food or other things that she and Rachel needed…Her hard work had paid off in extra food. As a result, Rachel had begun to look a little less tired at the end of the day, and showed more energy on the walk to the factory.” There was never a moment when Eva put herself before her older sister. I think that readers will definitely broaden their perspective about the Holocaust, and realize how thankful they should be for the life that they have today. There were many examples in the story that were easy to visualize and me feel the characters pain. For instance even though Eva was skin and bones, she decided to volunteer to dig ditches in order to receive extra rations for herself and Rachel, “As the hours passed, her hands became red and swollen, then blisters began to form on her fingers and palms. Eventually the blisters cracked, exposing tender new skin.” The language of the story helped me feel Eva’s pain, and made me wonder how she was strong enough to survive such horrible experiences.
I feel that the overall message of this story is to never stop trying, and to always value your family and what is important to you. Eva never stopped believing in God, and continued to practice her religion whenever she had the chance to. I admire Eva’s character because of her strength and courage. Even though she was being punished for being Jewish, she never once changed who she was, or let the Nazi’s take away what she believed in.

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