Smile Like a Plastic Daisy by Sonia Levitin

I could hear my parents talking from the other room. How could I do my lessons, and how could everything be all right when Papa was leaving tonight? And what if the doorbell did ring, and those men asked for Papa? “If the doorbell rings,” Mother began uneasily, then she said, “Never mind, Lisa. We looked down together, neither of us speaking, watching the two uniformed men who strolled back and forth as if they were trying to reach a decision. “Are you doing your lessons, Lisa?” Mother came to ask, glancing anxiously down to the street. I had written only the heading, Lisa Platt, February 7, 1938. Beside me lay my lesson book, with the arithmetic problems still unsolved. I sat in the window seat, my favorite place, for it was warm and cozy there, and I could see everything, both outside and in. It was a strange silence, with people hurrying into their homes before late afternoon, as if the darkness itself might bring danger. It was a deep, chilling cold, the fog turning to rain, and rain turning to sleet and snow, until the streets of Berlin were white and silent.

THAT WINTER HAD BEEN THE coldest and the longest I had ever known. Inspired by Sonia Levitin’s own experience of fleeing Germany as a child, this moving novel chronicles one family’s bravery in the face of aggression and apathy. But when conditions in Germany worsen, Lisa, her mother, and her sisters flee to Switzerland to wait, surviving on what little they have in a continent hurtling toward war. When their neighbors are arrested for petty reasons, the Platts realize they have to escape.įorbidden to bring money or possessions out of the country, Lisa’s father secretly leaves for America, planning to work until he can send for them. Lately, there have been more and more restrictions for Jews: yellow stars they have to wear, schools they cannot attend, things they are forbidden to do. In 1938, Lisa Platt and her family know something dangerous is happening in Germany. Urn:oclc:9893507 Republisher_date 20130912192812 Republisher_operator Scandate 20130911180053 Scanner beautifully repackaged 50th anniversary edition of Sonia Levitin’s powerful classic story about a young Jewish girl forced to flee her home, winner of the National Jewish Book Award. OL1938394W Page-progression lr Page_number_confidence 90.85 Pages 166 Ppi 650 Related-external-id urn:isbn:0689310242 Access-restricted-item true Addeddate 21:39:37 Bookplateleaf 0002 Boxid IA1104920 Camera Canon EOS 5D Mark II City New York Donorīlogistics Edition 1st Ballantine Books ed.

Smile Like a Plastic Daisy by Sonia Levitin