Hana's Suitcase

In Tokyo, Fumiko begins researching the ghetto of Theresienstadt, where Hana had been. Fumiko learns about how the city of Terezin was transformed into a ghetto, “a walled, guarded, overcrowded prison town to hold Jews who had been forced to leave their homes” (28). One of the most famous ghettos of the Holocaust, Theresienstadt held over 140,000 Jews, including some of the most famous artists, musicians, historians, and thinkers of the time. The adults in the ghetto secretly taught the 15,000 children different classes and skills; the paintings and drawings done by children at Theresienstadt survived the Holocaust. Fumiko hopes she can find a drawing or painting by Hana Brady. 

The restrictions imposed by the Nazis meant that Hana and George could no longer go to school. This is particularly upsetting to Hana, who wants to be a teacher. Her mother hires a tutor to help her keep learning, but it doesn’t feel the same as school.

In March 1941, Hana’s mother is “arrested by the Gestapo” and moved to a concentration camp (31). The children say a sad goodbye. The chapter includes a photo of both children with their mother.