Reading Response for Sarah's Key

       In Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay, the main character, Sarah, goes through a lot of personality change, though she does keep some main character traits throughout the story.  In the beginning of the book, Sarah is selfless and just plain happy.  She doesn't understand what is going on around her.  Sarah lives in Paris, France during 1942, the time of the Jewish roundup.  Unfortunately, Sarah is Jewish.  Her parents have kept all the political information from her though, so when French police come pounding on their door in the middle of the night, she has no idea what is happening.  Though Sarah is very helpful and selfless.  She knew her father was hiding in the attic, but she didn't know why.  So she kind of took charge in this stressful moment.  Her mother was frozen with fear, so Sarah calmed her down.  She persuaded her to open the door and talk to the police.  The police then told them that they had to pack for a short trip.  Her four-year-old brother decided that he was going to protest this madness and not pack.  So Sarah did what she thought was best at the time.  She decided to lock him in a secret cupboard and release him as soon as they came back.  What she didn't know was that they were never coming back.

       Sarah then was transported to a massive stadium with her mother and father.  She was not her usual self, though I don't think anyone would be expected to act normal in such a terrible time.  She was very panicky and couldn't stop thinking about her brother locked in the cabinet.  She took full blame for him being trapped.  Though I do not think it is her fault.  If her parents had told her anything that was going on she would have known that they were not coming back.  I think that Sarah's parents made the mistake that keeping necessary information from her was protecting her, when really it was the opposite.

       Towards the end of the story Sarah has really gotten brave and hard.  She lost her entire family and has no idea where they are.  So she is on her own, left to fend for herself against abusive police and sick, dying children.  Though Sarah remains to have her selfless character.  She tells stories that she used to tell her brother to all of the smaller children to give them something to focus on other than the  horrifying things going on around them.  She also holds their hands when they are scared, which is a lot.  Though Sarah is so determined to escape.  She thinks that if she leaves the camp now that she will be able to save her brother.  So she and her friend, Rachel, sneak out of the camp through a little gap in the fence.  Now they are left to find there way and not get caught with only a small amount of money that one of the friendliest guards gave them.  Hopefully Sarah's many great character traits will help she and her friend survive.