Milkweed (2005) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Summary edit see section history

Write a summary of the plot or a synopsis of this book.

Characters/People edit see section history

• Misha (Stopthief and Poppynoodle): Main character and his real name is never given
• Uri: First real friend of Misha and is practically a parental figure for Misha, but is somewhat mean to Misha.
• Janina: Misha's friend who he later calls his sister and is one of most important people to Misha
• Mrs. Milgrom: Not a strong character.
• Shepsel: Out for himself.
• Ferdi: Add a description of this character.
• Big Henryk
• Doctor Korczak
• Greta
• Himmler
• Jon
• Misha Pilsudski: The main character; he makes you see and feel what he saw and felt.
• Buffo

Quotes edit see section history

• “"I think of all the voices that have told me who I have been, the names I've had...who I was. Now I am. I am...Poppynoodle."”

  Misha

• “I don't like the fat one.”

  janina

• Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers

• The Jackboot flung me against a wall. I saw his hand go to his holster. I saw the gun come out and point between my eyes. “Die, piglet!” The voice. I looked up. The red hair. The face. “Uri!” I cried, and the gun went off.

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• This is what the enemy does. He flies overhead in his airplane. If he sees you in the street below, he reaches out and drops a bomb on your head. I pictured bombs as black iron balls about the size of a sauerkraut kettle.

  Highlighted by 22 Kindle customers

• “When you’re nothing, you’re free to believe anything. Go to sleep, Misha.”

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• “I’m not a Jew,” I told him. I held up my yellow stone. “I’m a Gypsy.” My reply delighted him. “Ah, so, a Gypsy. Good! Very good!”

  Highlighted by 18 Kindle customers

• From the moment Mr. Milgrom said, “He is now,” my identity as a Gypsy vanished. Gone were the seven wagons, seven brothers, five sisters, Greta the speckled mare. Deep down I guess I had always known my Gypsy history was merely Uri’s story, not reality. I didn’t miss it. When you own nothing, it’s easy to let things go. I supposed my last name was Milgrom now, so Pilsudski went too. I kept Misha. I liked it.

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• I rock. I smile. I close my eyes. I think of all the voices that have told me who I have been, the names I’ve had. Call me thief. Call me stupid. Call me Gypsy. Call me Jew. Call me one-eared Jack. I don’t care. Empty-handed victims once told me who I was. Then Uri told me. Then an armband. Then an immigration officer. And now this little girl in my lap, this little girl whose call silences the tramping Jackboots. Her voice will be the last. I was. Now I am. I am . . . Poppynoodle.

  Highlighted by 15 Kindle customers

• Death was as familiar to us as life. Even those still breathing, walking—they looked as if they were waiting for someone to tell them they were dead.

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• I was sure then that I would never again disobey Uri. But I did not know about the beautiful horses.

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• I never see who is chasing and calling me. I never stop long enough to eat the bread. When I awaken from dream or memory, my legs are tingling.

  Highlighted by 10 Kindle customers

• “I’m Uri,” he said. “What’s your name?” I gave him my name. “Stopthief.”

  Highlighted by 9 Kindle customers

Setting & Locations edit see section history

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• Heaven
• Warsaw
• Gesia Street
• Washington America
• Russia
• Ghetto: Where jews go

Organizations edit see section history

• The Nazi Party: Add a description of this organization.

First Sentence edit see section history

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Identity: Throughout the book, Misha is trying to find himself out. At first, it's his name, but then it gets deeper. One example of this is how, in the beginning of the book, he wants to be a Nazi. He might change though... ;)

Series & Lists edit see section history

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Jerry Spinelli (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Awards edit see section history

• Golden Kite Award (2004: Fiction)

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: PS3569.P546 2003
• Dewey: 813.54

Notes for Parents edit see section history

A little killing, but nothing too graphic.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Children's Books › Authors & Illustrators, A-Z › ( S ) › Spinelli, Jerry
• Books › Teens › History & Historical Fiction › Historical Fiction
• Books › Children's Books › History & Historical Fiction › Fiction
• Books › Children's Books › Literature
• Books › Children's Books › Ages 9-12