Marika #1

The book I am reading is Marika by Andrea Cheng.  The story takes place in Budapest Hungary. Markia’s family wishes to protect her so, all though she was born Maria (Marika) Schnurmacher, she and her family created a fake birth certificate stating that her religion was Catholic. That was a very important fact because of what was going on in the world. There was a Germen leader named Hitler who hated Jews. Marika did not quite understand why her father was always so worried. It seemed like Jews in Australia and Germany were having a very hard time but that was very far away from Budapest. Marika also did not understand why her family didn’t like their last name. Her uncle tries to explain to her that it was a Jewish name and they were pretending to be Roman Catholics.

            While on vacation at their summer home, Marika’s father put up a wall separating his living area and rest of their family. I think he did this to separate himself by the family, and perhaps he is looking to the future and feels that it might be a good hiding place.  Marika has been told that she should not use her hands when she talks because that is a Jewish ways of talking. She has also been told that it is a good thing that she has a small nose because no one would think she was Jewish.  She had a huge Christmas tree that was decorated with the beautiful stars and angels. Her father told her that religion was old fashioned and they might as well be like everyone else, Roman Catholics. I can see that the father is very worried for his family. Because of their Jewish heritage.  Although, the war has not been started yet, Marika’s father and uncle have been stories about their relatives in Austria getting beat up and dragged from the street. Her father knows that in this crazy time it is not a good thing to be Jewish.  

            All of this is very confusing for Marika who was only in first grade. Her behavior reflects this confusion and her father had to talk to her several times about being sensitive to her mother in this difficult time for their family. If I had to predict what might happen to Marika and her family, I would say that her father and uncle will find a way to hide the family if war breaks out and Budapest is not a save place for them.