When reading this book i some of the true horrors that everyday jews and other targeted people had at the time. Whenever we learn about The Holocaust, we learn about the unfair treatment in a general way. Everyone's struggles and statistics of how the population was hurt. It was good to get insight on one person's perpective rather than the general view. While reading, Gerda explains the actions in her life but also her personal worries and thoughts. Some of the most shocking parts i thought, were the stories of how the familes' closest friends and neighbors could just turn on them and think as though they have done nothing wrong. The more i read the more i realized that as time went on, things just kept getting worse for the family. Its hard to believe that you are living one way all your life and then suddenly a single event happens and it changes your life completly. The family was not only immidately affected but the torrment went on for years. Having your life governed so bad and put in the brutal hostility for those many years. The story of Gerda and Abek was also interesting because it showed that even though people have been put through all of this torrment, they still had their own business to worry about. (love life). All in all i believe that this book is a great represintation of all Holocaust survivors and Gerda has done a fantastic job with sharing her views, the facts, and stories of living through this tragety.