The author
The author's great uncle was who the book was based on. The author (Adam Bagdasarian) based his book off of his great uncle's experiences.
Characters
Vahan Kenderian- (The main character) He has many rough and difficult experiences throughout the entire book. As you get into the book he meets more and more people that can help or hurt his experiences. Along his journey he fakes deafness, watches his family die, sees his sister poison herself, finds long lasting friends, finds love, and tries to escape the Turks.
Sisak Kenderian- Vahan's brother who helps him escape the soldiers, but then Vahan finds him nearly dead on the sidewalk shortly after.
Armenouhi Kenderian- Vahan's sister who finds out that the soldiers rape young girls. Not long after finding that out she poisons herself to avoid being raped.
Seta- A girl who Vahan falls in love with and also gets pregnant by a German, and towards the end dies.
Tavel and Diran Kenderian- Vahan's brothers who get killed in the very beginning of the book.
Sarkis Kenderian- Vahan's father who is taken away by the soldiers in the very beginning of the book and at first Vahan doesn't know why but then when the soldiers come back he finds out.
Dr. Tashian and Mrs. Tashian- A couple who takes Vahan in later in the book. Later in the book Mrs. Tashian dies of a stroke.
Sisak Kenderian- Vahan's brother who helps him escape the soldiers, but then Vahan finds him nearly dead on the sidewalk shortly after.
Armenouhi Kenderian- Vahan's sister who finds out that the soldiers rape young girls. Not long after finding that out she poisons herself to avoid being raped.
Seta- A girl who Vahan falls in love with and also gets pregnant by a German, and towards the end dies.
Tavel and Diran Kenderian- Vahan's brothers who get killed in the very beginning of the book.
Sarkis Kenderian- Vahan's father who is taken away by the soldiers in the very beginning of the book and at first Vahan doesn't know why but then when the soldiers come back he finds out.
Dr. Tashian and Mrs. Tashian- A couple who takes Vahan in later in the book. Later in the book Mrs. Tashian dies of a stroke.
setting
The book takes place in Turkey. Vahan was born in the city Bitlis, but on his journey he travels all across Turkey. Bitlis is described as a beautiful city with a lot of stone houses.