Response to Literature The main characters in Jane Yolen’s “Suzy and Leah” are Suzy and Leah. Suzy is an American assisting Jewish refugees from Germany. Leah is a German Jewish refugee in an American refugee camp. Suzy feels bad for the refugees and wants to help them. Leah feels that the Americans are not helping her. The girls are partnered and do not like one another. Eventually, both of the girls realize that you should not judge a book by its cover. At the beginning of the story, the girls are not affectionate towards each other. Suzy writes in her diary, “It’s not like she’s any fun at all. I wish Mr. Forest would let me trade.” She does not realize what Leah has been through. Suzy’s mother briefly explains what happened to the Jews in Germany and the concentration camps. Leah writes in a diary similarly to Suzy. She states in her diary, “She expects me to be grateful. But how can I be grateful? She treats me like a pet, a pet she does not really like or trust. She wants me to feel like an animal behind bars.” Leah becomes ill and is sent to the hospital. Suzy is ordered to bring Leah all of her belongings, …show more content…
Suzy had brought the refugees apples, oranges, and candy bars. She sees how they react wildly when she gives them candy bars and does not know why. When the refugees arrive at school Suzy thinks about how hard it will be for them and is sympathetic towards them. Leah does not act like an animal and is one of the brightest refugees. When Leah receives assistance from Suzy she feels as though she is being treated as a pet, as if she were owned by another human being. After the diaries are exchanged between the two girls their opinions about each other change drastically. Suzy understands how Leah feels and why, and Leah understands that Suzy was just trying to help and did not fully realize Leah's situation. Because of the exchange, the girls become good