Milkweed

"Milkweed" by Jerry Spinelli follows the story of a young orphan boy, named Misha, fighting to survive on the streets of the Warsaw ghetto during the Holocaust and WWII. Spinelli brings his readers to the tragic world under Nazi brutality, but seen through the innocent eyes of a child too young to understand what is happening. The name "Milkweed" comes from the milkweed plant that Misha finds growing through the rubble within the ghetto. His friend calls it an "angel plant" and it becomes a symbol of resilience that reflects Misha's life and perseverance under devastating circumstances.