Zlata's Diary

Part 1: Preface and Introduction (VII-XXX)

Reading Check

1. Dublin, Ireland (ix)

2. The piano (xxiii)

3. Anne Frank (xxi)

Short Answer

1. She wrote and continues to write as a way to get events and ideas out of her head, to externalize her experiences without judgement, and to maintain a sense of control amid chaos. (xiii)

2. Since its release, she feels her diary no longer belongs just to her but also to history. People use it in ways that surprise her: as a record of history, a reminder of strength in the face of unimaginable horror, and as a tool to remember simple things such as birthdates. (xiv)

3. She describes Zlata as mature for her age, strong, and coping better than many refugee children. She attributes this to both the close knit ties of Zlata’s family and friends and to the objectivity that recording the war as an observer has given her. (xxvii-xxviii)

Part 2: September 1991-January 1992

Reading Check

1. Keeping up with schoolwork (2)

2. The family’s vacation home and a historical landmark (4)

3. She gets sick. (12)