Milkweed is the story of a poor Polish orphan at the beginning of World War II. The main character, Misha Pilsudski, has always wanted to be a Nazi soldier. All he thought it was were the fancy, shiny boots and the long warm coats. When he meets a fellow Jew, Janina, she tells him of all the horrors the Nazis are doing. Nevertheless, Misha still wants to be warm, fed, and comfortable. After the Nazis come and move all Jews into the ghettos Misha realizes just how awful they are. Since Misha and Janina are poor they have to steal food, water, firewood, and clothes sometimes just to get by. One day when Misha and Janina were going on their daily routine of stealing, Janina's father warns them to run away and never come back. Janina is intent on going back to see her father but she is captured on the streets by a train while Misha was able to escape. Misha goes to America where he can finally be safe. He marries a woman named Vivan but she is upsetted by his strange ways and leaves him. The book ends with him planting milkweeds in his garden, safe and sound.
This book was definitely one of my favorites. I love books about World War II and I think this is probably my second favorite book about the topic. Milkweed is a good book to read when you just want to read. It's interesting and keeps you reading. I finished this book in I think a day because I was just so intrigued. I would recommend this book to anyone. Probably from 5th grade would be a good level to read a book like this. I think everyone would love Milkweed. ( )