Milkweed

by

Jerry Spinelli

Newbery Medal-winning author Jerry Spinelli paints a vivid picture of the streets of the Nazi-occupied Warsaw during World War II, as seen through the eyes of a young, heartbreakingly naive orphan known as Misha. Readers will love Misha the dreamer and his wonderfully poetic observations of the world around him, his instinct to befriend a Jewish girl and her family, his impulse to steal food for a local orphanage and his friends in the ghetto, and his ability to delight in small things; even surrounded by the horror of the Holocaust.

---

Enrichment Activities

Role Playing

This exercise will get your students into the nitty gritty of the story! First, assign one character from the book to each student, and ask them to write down three to five questions that they would like to ask that character. You may assign only major characters, or you may choose to use all characters from the book (see the lists, below). Since Misha's various names represent different portions of his life story, you could also consider using each "identity" as a different character.

Next, have each student pair off with a student who has questions for a different character, and begin the role play. For example, say Student A has questions to ask Uri. His partner, Student B, will role play Uri and answer the questions. Then Student B will ask his questions about Janina, and Student A will answer them.

Major Characters

Misha (AKA Stopthief, Misha Pilsudski, Misha Milgrom, Jack   Milgrom, Poppynoodle)

Uri

Janina

Mr. Milgrom

Doctor Korczak

Uncle Shepsel

Minor Characters

Kuba, "the clown," who stole the lamp of the naked lady

Ferdi, who blows smoke

Olek, who has one arm, and who believes in angels

Enos, who is "grim-faced," and doesn't believe in angels

Jon, who is "gray and unspeaking"

Big Henryk, who wears bank coin bags for shoes

Mrs. Milgrom, Janina's mother

Buffo "Fatman," the Flop

Elzbieta, the farmer's wife

Vivian Milgrom, Jack Milgrom's wife

Katherine Milgrom, Jack Milgrom's daughter

Wendy Janini Milgrom, Jack Milgrom's granddaughter

Letter Writing

Write a letter to Misha. Say and ask whatever they like. Share the letter with the rest of the class, if they feel comfortable doing that.

Research Activity

Dr. Korczak, who runs the orphanage in the story, was a real person. There was even a play written about him and his orphans. Research Dr. Korczak and write about his life and his notable quotations. Click here to start your search.

Looking for What's Good

Milkweed does not shy away from the horror and devastation of life in Warsaw in 1939. Yet throughout the book there are glimmers of normal life, happiness, and hope. Closely exam the story and make a list these instances. Share and discuss your lists of "what's good." What do you think Spinelli was trying to accomplish with those positive notes.

Learning About the Holocaust

At the student page of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, you can find some online activities to do.

Resources

Jerry Spinelli Website

Learn all about Jerry Spinelli by visiting his website.

---

Books by Jerry Spinelli

Crash

Crash is a seventh-grade football hero, macho to the bone, who revels in his buddyhood with his neighbor Mike, the companionship of his beloved grandfather, and the fresh possibilities suggested by a pretty new girl in his class.

The Library Card

Four poignant and often funny tales of the life-changing effect a little blue library card has on the four young people who discover it.

Stargirl

In a moving and highly engaging tale about the vagaries of adolescent peer pressure, Jerry Spinelli tells the story of Stargirl, a high school student who is startlingly different from everyone else.

There's a Girl in my Hammerlock

Thirteen-year-old Maisie joins her school's formerly all-male wrestling team and tries to last through the season, despite opposition from other students, her best friend, and her own teammates.

Wringer

Nine-year-old Palmer faces his future as a wringer &endash; that is, one of the ten-year-old boys who strangle the pigeons wounded during the town's annual pigeon shoot. Palmer does not want to kill pigeons; in fact, by fate or happenstance, he has befriended one, a bonding that must be concealed from his bullying 'friends.'