No Pretty Pictures

Lobel arguably splits herself into two characters. There’s the adult Lobel in the Prologue and Epilogue and the child Anita in “Poland” and “Sweden.” Discuss the similarities and differences between the two. How do Lobel’s perceptions impact Anita’s experiences and vice versa?

Unpack Anita’s fraught relationship with her Jewish identity. How does Anita’s exposure to the Holocaust impact her relationship with Judaism? How does her aversion to Judaism relate to the common need for young people to create an independent identity?

Niania’s words suggest she’s anti-Jewish, but her actions demonstrate her devotion to Jewish people. In modern society, where people are routinely judged by what they say, how might Niania be received? How does the figure of Niania expose the danger of judging a person primarily by the words they use?