My Summary

     This is a heart-filled novel written about a time most wish didn't happen. A time when people, the Jewish people especially, weren't treated like humans, but as the filth people walk on. This story, Mila 18, tells about the Holocaust. Starting off, the book describes the power of the German forces by describing how the German army took over Poland in less than a month. Then the story goes on by telling about the ever dreadful ghetto in Warsaw and how a "Civil Authority" was created with Jews for the Germans to use as puppets to do the German dirty work. Then the liquidation of the millions of Jewish in the ghetto started. By fooling the Jewish people into volunteering to go to a labor camp, the Germans were able to commit mass murders and then burn the remains. After a majority of the people were captured by the Germans, only the strong-willed remained. They formed an army and started training. When the Germans started to come in and take over, These Jewish fighters held out for forty-two days and nights. Only a few selected people were allowed to leave to carry on Jewish Poland's bloodline and to protect the many volumes of journals written to show others what really happened.

How is the book a reflection upon the social, political, and economic happenings during this time setting?

     Mila 18 is a historical fiction, therefore, the book gives a mental picture of what it would be like to live during World War II in Warsaw, Poland. Every aspect of life was controlled by the Germans and their dictator, Adolf Hitler. Social happenings were a wreck unless the event was for the Germans or the few rich. The political world was controlled by the dictator and the many other high officials, and the economic happenings were controlled by the Germans who stole, bribed, took, and basically did whatever they wanted. With the rate of inflation, only the Germans and rich could afford anything.

Are there concerns or issues discussed in this book that remain relevant in today's contemporary society?

     Yes, I think that we all should be worried about what happened in Poland and what Germany did to others. No one should sit back and watch a country become that powerful and then not do anything about it. And Germany has broken the restrictions that were placed on them at the end of the war, but no one has done anything. Wouldn't you be worried?

Robert Pyke