If you think about it, Gemma had at least three families: whoever her family was before the Holocaust, her wartime family of the partisans who rescued her, and the family she established after she moved to the U.S. None of these families knew about the others, at least until Becca found Josef in Poland. Josef told her about her grandfather, Avenger, who died before Becca's mother was even born.
This is important intel to Becca, who values family more than anything. The book doesn't tell us if she's planning to name at least one of her future children Avenger II, but we have to assume the answer is yes.
Questions About Family
- Do Becca's sisters seem to have good relationships with their husbands? Explain your answer.
- Name at least three ways in which the story demonstrates that Gemma was close with her family.
- How does Josef help Gemma immigrate to the U.S.? Why doesn't he come with her?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
In some ways, the Berlin family didn't know Gemma at all.
Gemma's family knew her in every way that mattered.