Milkweed
Jerry Spinelli
Contributed by Eliz Capito
Chapter 28-30
Summary

Summer in the ghetto brings flocks of crows and flies that cling to dead bodies on the street. There are no longer any horses to draw the wagons, so men now pull them through the streets, throwing corpses onto the back for removal. People in the ghetto die from either sickness or hunger, and though Misha has little control over the former, he continues to steal food to feed both his family and the orphans. Misha believes this to be his duty.

Janina follows Misha regularly out of the ghetto to steal food. The children frequently raid the hotel, along with the homes of the wealthy. At one home, a young boy wakes up to their raid and the children eat food and whisper together. Originally, Mr. Milgrom does not know that Janina has been following Misha out of the ghetto. However, when the children are missing through another nighttime lineup ordered by the Jackboots, Mr. Milgrom punishes Janina and Misha by squeezing their ears, telling them that they need to stop smuggling. Misha does not stop smuggling, though he tries to get Janina to stop following him. The next time Janina follows Misha into the night, they have an argument and Janina’s shouting almost gets them caught. 

Misha allows Janina to follow him through the wall and out of the ghetto. Misha entertains Janina by letting her see the merry-go-round, where they pretend that the horses are galloping. Misha does not let them smuggle food, believing that if they do not steal food, then they will not be killed if they are caught. Misha brings Janina to the cemetery, to show her the angel. He tells her what he knows of angels and Heaven, but Janina is unimpressed. The children return home. On the way, they see a man using a flamethrower on a sewer hole and Misha worries for Enos, Ferdi, and Olek. The next day, Misha meets up with the boys and sees that they are safe. Enos tells him that the flamethrower only has a limited range. The boys do not seem worried about this new development, and Misha tells them that he thinks the fire is “gorgeous” (108). Misha thinks the ghetto is devoid of color.

Misha and Janina begin smuggling food again. One day, they come across Jackboots and Flops beating some boys who are caught smuggling food. Buffo is one of the Flops and he eagerly sets himself on the boys, beating them with clubs on the street until they bleed. Janina runs away, and Misha believes that this is the last of Janina following him. Misha does his best to get her to stop following him, going so far as to tell Mr. Milgrom of what has been happening. Mr. Milgrom tells her to stop smuggling and Janina cries. The next night, when Misha escapes the ghetto, Janina does not follow him, and he feels free. 

The next day, Misha hears Janina mocking and taunting Buffo just like he does. Misha pulls down his pants and moons Buffo as they run away from him. Misha stops taunting Buffo from that day on so that Janina will stop copying him. Misha realizes that Janina is his shadow, and there is no escaping her. That night, Misha smuggles food into the ghetto without incident, though when he returns to the Milgroms’ room, he realizes that Janina has gone smuggling. The next morning, there is more food on the table than what he originally placed there. Janina no longer goes smuggling with Misha and does not take credit for any of the food. 

The children ignore each other on their nightly trips, even though they sometimes pass each other on the street. One day, while Janina and Misha are napping on the street, they spot a milkweed plant clinging to Misha’s shoe. The white and green puffs float around Janina and Misha, and they are both warmed by the sight of a plant in the ghetto. Misha takes to calling the city outside of the wall Heaven. 

Analysis

Misha begins to feel stifled and constrained by aspects of his identity new identity as Misha Milgrom. Part and parcel with his role is being Janina’s older brother. As a result, Janina mimics and copies everything that Misha does. From smuggling food, mocking Buffo, to visiting the boys, Janina admires and looks up to Misha the way only a younger sibling can. For the first time in Misha’s experience, his actions have a direct result on another person. Misha is frustrated by the sudden restrictions on his actions due to Janina’s presence, which make Misha restless and, in turn, he begins to resent Janina. 

When Janina stops following Misha smuggling, Misha feels free. Misha is used to doing what he wants when he wants, and it is jarring to him that his newfound identity provides not only roots but also shackles. The children do not address the problems they have with one another, as they are too young to find a solution to the problem. Instead, Misha and Janina ignore one another when they see each other at night. This is especially dangerous, as evidenced by the Jackboots with flamethrowers, who are beginning to crack down on security around the wall. 

The children’s childish tantrums and antics are thrown into sharp contrast against the setting of the ghetto and the reality of their situation. Misha initially thinks that sneaking out of the wall and not smuggling food will keep them from being killed. This childish and naive line of thinking is in distinct opposition to what the readers know to be true. Furthermore, the realization that the children are sacrificing everything for the sake of their family, to provide them with enough food to survive, is another example of the dehumanization and destruction of innocence inherent to the Holocaust.

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