The Island on Bird Street

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of religious discrimination and graphic violence.

Hope is a crucial component of children’s literature; in stories about the Holocaust, hope offers some counterbalance to violence, cruelty, and persecution. Citing evidence from the text, how does the author offer elements of hope in the novel? For example, how do characters perceive and discuss the future of the Jewish people? What reasons does Alex have to hold onto hope?

What are the reasons for Alex’s emotional outburst after the snowball fight? Why does he cry after a happy event, as opposed to times he experiences sadness or fear?

Young protagonists often have an animal sidekick that serves as a sounding board. What does Snow’s role reveal about Alex’s character indirectly? What does Snow represent on a symbolic level?