Hana's Suitcase

With Ludmila’s help, Fumiko is able to find the page in the Auschwitz register of names that has Hana and George on it. Fumiko realizes that Hana had a brother. The document is shown on Page 73. Next to Hana’s name is a checkmark, like most of the names, but there is no check next to George. Fumiko wonders why this is.

The ghetto becomes increasingly crowded, and one day, George excitedly tells Hana that their grandmother has arrived. Before the war, Grandmother was healthy and elegant, but Hana is shocked to see that Grandmother is extremely sick. Hana and George try to help her, but over several months, they watch their grandmother die. There is so much death in the ghetto that this is an unremarkable event, and Hana tries to ignore the rumors about the awful things happening beyond the ghetto walls.

The Nazis keep many lists of people; every week, new lists are posted of people who will be moved elsewhere. Hana doesn’t want to imagine being separated from George, but one day, George’s name is on the list. They share a special goodbye, and Hana is very sad. A few weeks later, though, Hana is also summoned to be transported east, and her friend Ella helps her clean herself up for her reunion.