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Copywork
About This Passage
This is the last sentence of chapter five — and one of the most famous endings in the book. The soldiers have just left. Annemarie has been holding Ellen's gold-chain necklace in her fist so tightly, for so long, that the little Star of David has pressed itself into her palm like a stamp. Copying this passage trains the scout to notice that sometimes a body shows you what a person was feeling — Annemarie did not say she was scared, but her hand had been so tight that it left a mark. The Star of David is a Jewish symbol; Ellen wore it around her neck. By holding it in her hand, Annemarie was hiding something for her friend. Now the secret has left a small picture on her own skin.
Annemarie relaxed the clenched fingers of her right hand, which still clutched Ellen's necklace. She looked down, and saw that she had imprinted the Star of David into her palm.
Full copywork activity with handwriting lines available in the complete study guide.
Discussion Questions
Narration Prompt
Retell chapter five in your own words. Begin with Ellen and Annemarie getting ready for bed and giggling about Ellen pretending to be the Dark Queen. Then the quieter talk in the dark about Lise dying long ago. Then the loud pounding on the door at four in the morning. Tell about Annemarie pulling the necklace off Ellen's neck and hiding it in her fist. Tell about the soldier grabbing Ellen's hair and asking, 'Where did you get the dark-haired one?' Then Papa showing the three baby pictures with the names. End with the soldiers leaving and Annemarie opening her hand and seeing the Star of David pressed into her palm.
Discussion Questions
- Before the soldiers come, Ellen practices being the Dark Queen and Annemarie tells her she should be an actress when she grows up. What in the story tells you the girls are trying to feel less afraid? How do you know that pretending can sometimes help when you are scared?
- When Annemarie hears the soldiers in the apartment, she whispers, 'Ellen, take your necklace off!' Ellen cannot get the clasp open. Annemarie says, 'This will hurt,' and yanks the chain hard. Why is breaking the necklace the right thing to do? What in the story tells you Annemarie was being a true friend to Ellen, even though she hurt her a little?
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Vocabulary Builder
Item 1
the part of your arm at the end with fingers and a palm
Item 2
a shape with points, often used as a symbol; also a bright light in the night sky
Item 3
the flat inside part of your hand, where your fingers bend toward
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Critical Thinking
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