Allie Lesser

As I have finished the second part of the book, I am amazed at how incredible Gerda's story truly is. Gerda has gone through everything imaginable. From never seeing her family, to being beaten by a guard for not knowing who through bread over the fence, to having her best friend die in her arms, and meeting her future husband on liberation day. Although Gerda was by no means in a great state of well being, I think that in many ways she was lucky. Her ski boots saved her life on the death march, and she went to camp instead of staying with Abek's family, which you later find out died. I have so much admiration towards Gerda for her amazing strength and never doubting that one day she will be free. Gerda inspired so many others in the book, telling the girls that the guards were scared because they new the war was staring to end, and making a play for entertainment for the girls gave hope to many of the girls in the camp. I think it would be hard to make new friends in camp, not knowing if I would see them the next day or if they would see me is frightening. Gerda and her friends made it happen though, they lived off the fantasy of what was going to happen after the war. I also think that playing games such as the girls did also gave them all a little hope and courage to keep on going. Something that really stuck out to me at the end of the book was when Gerda tells her weight was sixty eight pounds. I cannot even imagine what she looked like. It sickens me knowing it was easy for the guards and other people who run the camps could watch these poor innocent people starve to death. Gerda is an inspiration to me, she showed bravery and courage in a time where most people had given up. If I had lived in a camp I could not say if I would have made it like Gerda did, but if I had a friend like her right there with me, the perseverance she had would push me to keep fighting, for my life and my freedom.