If I Should Die Before I Wake

            My second international book was called If I Should Die before I Wake. This book partially took place in Philadelphia during present time while the other is in Poland during the holocaust. The main characters are Chana and Hilary. Hilary is in a Jewish hospital in Philadelphia in a coma having memories of being a Jewish girl in Poland called Chana.

            Hilary hates Jews. Hilary’s dad died when she was five. He was the only person she felt connected to. She really doesn’t bond with her mother. Hilary is a young sixteen year old blond full of hate, sadness, and she is lost. This is why she joined the Aryan Warriors gang of her town who worship Hitler. To find belonging. The question is why is she full of hate toward the Jews and her mother?

            Chana is a young Jewish girl living in Poland with her mother, father, grandparents, little sister, baby sister, and her older brother. She was thirteen at the beginning of the story. Horrible events happen to her like the death of her father. Chana was a brunette girl who was brave. All she wanted was to be able to play her violin in the orchestra where she was accepted. She wanted to survive the holocaust. Will she survive?

            Hilary’s relationship with her father was great. He died when Hilary was five because he was in an accident. The person that Hilary thought was responsible was a Jewish man. From Hilary’s birth to age five her mother had never touched her or taken care of her. Her mother was going through this crying spells since Hilary could remember. Sadly for Hilary she was left with her mother. When she was five her mother went out for three days and left her alone at home all those days with rotten milk, half a jar of mustard and four slices of bread. All that time Hilary stared out the window seeing how a father and son bond saving crumbs of bread. Her mother came back the third day a changed woman. She had tried suicide but had seen hope from God and from that day forth she promise to be a better mother and devoted to God. Brad an Aryan warrior and boyfriend was responsible for the accident that caused Hilary to go into a coma. She loved him so much but after he and a new Aryan warrior tried to burn the hospital she didn’t anymore. She and Chana have never met. Having her memories is totally unique. Hilary is in the coma conscious of what is happening around her but can’t see anybody but these elderly women that she calls grandma.  At first she hates her because she is a Jew but after a few sad memories she starts loving her. Hilary starts believing that Chana’s family is actually hers and that she is in concentration camp. At the end her hate stops. She is even worried about a Jewish boy who her gang stuffed in a locker. The first conversation she has she say “I-don’t-Simon”. This shows that after hating this boy she finally appreciates him.

            Chana’s relationships are a little less ruff. She loved her dad who she called Tata. He was killed by Germans and Chana was near by to hear it. She loves her mother and never shows any conflicts with her. The only argument they had was in the ghetto and it was about the deportation of children. The argument between Chana and her family members was if to hide so that Anya wouldn’t be taken or for her mother to go with her. Sadly Anya and her mother got taken next to her mother’s friend. Zayde is Chana’s grandpa who was overworked by the Germans and died right next to Chana. Bubbe is the grandmother and had a sixth sense. She called it the gift. She helped Chana survive. She seemed to know what would happen next whether it was bad or good. Jakub was Chana’s brother. Ever since tata’s death he always was watching out for Germans. He attempted escaping out of the ghetto and his village but failed both times. Then there was Nadzia the baby. Nadzia was given by her mother to some German friends before going into the ghetto. Nadzia was taken to England so she could be safe. Dvora was thought as crazy but actually really helped Chana out in Concentration camp. Rivke also helped but died later on. In concentration camp Chana met a girl name Matel who told her she looked like her mother who passed. Chana became like her mother until one day Chana woke up and found out she died in her sleep. At the end Chana gets hit on the back of her head by a German and dreams of all her family and friends, some who were dead. She woke up and told Bubbe about her dream. She didn’t know if it was true that all were dead. Later Bubbe leaves and she dreams of her. Bubbe tells her she has the gift. Chana survived while all her family died except Nadzia who survived and grew up to be Nadia. An example of Chana surviving is “Dear God,” he said in Russian. ”She’s alive!” Chana was the old lady Hilary saw in her coma. She died of cancer the day that Hilary cam out of coma.

            Boy did I love this book!! It was sad at the end but really showed how life was in concentration camps. It showed two points of view and how it is to walk in someone else’s shoes. I totally recommend it. It is a page turner. I couldn’t stop reading!!! Love it and recommend it!!!

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