Someone Named Eva

Identity is one of the most important themes in Someone Named Eva. The story centers around 11-year-old Milada, whose identity and sense of self is based on microcosms like her family heritage as well as her small Czech community. To Milada, important self-identifying markers include her name, which she shares with her grandmother and great-grandmother, and being the fastest runner in her class. Milada is only beginning to figure out her individuality and faces a unique challenge: She is coming of age during the Nazi occupation of her home country, Czechoslovakia. A recurring quote from Babichka summarizes Milada’s challenge throughout the story: “Remember who you are, Milada. Remember where you are from. Always” (19).

Milada’s identity is challenged by internal and external forces throughout the story, primarily by Fräulein Krüger at the German facility. In an attempt to reprogram the girls to become German citizens, Fräulein Krüger renames the girls and forces them to speak only German. Milada tries to resist, but the name “Eva” and the German language become more familiar to her. While at the facility, Milada has two people living inside of her, Milada and Eva.

I was learning to tuck away pieces of my real self: the girl from Czechoslovakia that has a family waiting for her.