More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Therefore, it stood to reason that as long as everyone did what the Board of Health advised—kept their feet dry, stayed warm, ate more onions, and kept their bowels and windows open—they’d be fine.
Sounds familiar
“It’s hard enough after President Wilson said all German citizens are alien enemies. I follow the new laws. I sign the papers they want me to sign refusing my German citizenship. I do the fingerprinting. But I have no money to buy Liberty loans or make a donation to the Red Cross. I have to feed you and your brothers. So we must go to the parade. All of us. Even your father fighting in the war is not enough to keep the neighbors happy.”
“Obey the laws and wear the gauze, protect your jaws from septic paws.”
“Formaldehyde tablets. Melt under your tongue. Proven to kill germs and prevent infection and contagion. Fifty tablets for fifty cents.”
“A sugar cube soaking in...” Mutti furrowed her brow. “I cannot think of the word. Kar . . . karo . . .” “Kerosene?”
Geez kerosene and formaldehyde
Due to the war, they were supposed to sacrifice by having wheatless Wednesdays and meatless Mondays,
It was easy to understand why the man who lived upstairs, Mr. Werkner, had shot his wife and two children before putting a gun to his own head instead of letting the flu decide their fate.
Omg
How could they make him wait in line behind people who should have been looking for help from their own kind?
Dude wtf
They weren’t like her and her family, whose relatives had lived in South Philly since the 1830s, when her grandfather had moved here from Canada to work as a stonemason.
So a migrant...
the Irish brought cholera, the Jews brought tuberculosis, the Italians brought polio, and the Chinese brought bubonic plaque.
Anything that could be made soft enough, she fed to them. Anything that was hard or distasteful, like crusts of bread or lentil soup, she kept for herself.
Aw
Pia should have asked a neighbor for help or taken the boys to the Red Cross—anything
Dude shes 13 and kept TWINS alive for 8 days
But then again, she was their mother now, and mothers would do anything to protect their children, even lie, cheat, or steal.
Thats the logic
She didn’t owe Mrs. Lange an apology or a promise or a prayer. If anything, Mrs. Lange should be grateful she was willing to take in her sons.
Geez.
A lesser person would have left them to starve.
Would you have taken them if your son was alive. No you wouldn't have left ur room
She started to fill the glass, frantic and trying to figure out what to do, then noticed the container of rat poison on the cupboard below the washbasin.
Holy shit
“But Nurse Carla, bless her sweet soul, went to be with our Lord two days ago.”
wait that cant be the same nurse bc that was the day she left
Pia forced a smile. “Thank you, ma’am,” she said to Miss O’Malley.
Us orphans always told to be grateful
“You’re lucky you’ve got people willing to look after you.”
Ugh i hate that so much. Youre so lucky anyone one who didnt birth you gives a rats ass
Our job at St. Vincent’s is to shelter those in need, not to understand the reason behind that need.
Wow
She indicated several other children, girls and boys alike, and said the same thing about them speaking other languages.
Convenient
“And I’m not talking about the mess. I punished you for lying. Gigi wets the bed every night.
shes 4... Getting 3 strikes a day...id wet the bed too
“She’ll send you and Gigi down to the laundry to find fresh underwear,” Jenny said. “But not until you’ve had to wear the wet ones all day.”
Wow thats a uti
Luckily, Mother Joe had let Pia out of the dungeon-like room after four days, but it felt like she was in there for an eternity.
"luckily" they take kids away for that
“I send my oldest with you,” she said. “His name is Hasan.”
Wow she takes them from their moms wtf
Doubling her efforts to collect donations to pay for the tickets had been the biggest problem so far,
Dude you could actually be feeding them..
It was enough for two months’ rent, groceries, and three more train tickets for immigrant children.
Or you could stop buying tickets....
