Ethan Walker
In the 1997 young adult novel 'Stones in Water' by Donna Jo Napoli, Roberto is a Catholic boy living in Venice, Italy during World War II. The story begins with Roberto, a naive younger brother, excitedly skipping lunch to make it in time for an American Western film with his Jewish friend Samuele and his other friend Memo. As the story unfolds, Roberto and his friends are captured by German soldiers and sent to a work camp, where they struggle to survive and hide Samuele's Jewish identity. Roberto's character embodies the essence of Venice and he is described as a practical Catholic who supports his friend throughout their ordeal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the novel | Stones in Water |
| Year of publication | 1997 |
| Author | Donna Jo Napoli |
| Genre | Historical fiction, young adult fiction |
| Setting | World War II, Italy, concentration camps |
| Protagonist | Roberto |
| Roberto's friend | Samuele, also called Enzo |
| Roberto's brother | Sergio |
| Roberto's friend's religion | Jewish |
| Roberto's religion | Catholic |
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What You'll Learn
Roberto is a Catholic boy
Roberto has a Jewish friend named Samuele, whose name is changed to Enzo to conceal his Jewish heritage and protect him from the Nazis. Roberto gives Samuele/Enzo his St. Christopher medal to help keep him safe. The two friends are sent to a work camp, where they face many challenges and struggle to survive. Roberto is practical and quick-thinking, often coming up with ways to help Enzo hide his identity and stay alive. He even creates diversions to allow Enzo to wash himself, showing his unwavering friendship and bravery in the face of danger.
Roberto also skips meals to ensure he doesn't miss out on experiences, such as when he sneaks off to see a movie in a local movie theater. He is excited to see that American films are still being shown in Italy, and he invites his friends to join him. Unfortunately, their outing takes a dangerous turn when German soldiers start filling the theater, taking all the boys present away.
Despite the hardships and dangers they face, Roberto and Enzo work together and protect each other. Roberto escapes the camp and treks across Ukraine, facing many difficulties along the way. He covers himself in a potato sack and rows down a river with an Italian soldier he meets. Roberto's fate at the end of the novel is left ambiguous, leaving readers to wonder about his ultimate destiny.
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Roberto's friendship with Jewish Samuele
In the 1997 young adult novel "Stones in Water", Roberto and his friend Memo befriend Samuele, a Jewish boy, despite the friendship being forbidden. The story is set in World War II, when Nazi Germany had begun its persecution of Jews and other minorities across Europe.
Roberto and Memo's friendship with Samuele is marked by their willingness to overlook religious differences and embrace their shared humanity. Despite the risks, they invite Samuele to join them at the cinema, where they are caught by the Nazis. To protect Samuele, Roberto and Memo quickly devise a plan to conceal his Jewish identity. They give him the nickname "Enzo" to make his name sound more Catholic, and Roberto lends him his St. Christopher medal.
As prisoners in a Nazi forced labour camp, Roberto and Samuele face numerous challenges together. Roberto helps Samuele hide his circumcision, a predominantly Jewish practice, from their German overseers. He wakes up earlier than Samuele to allow him to relieve himself in private, and they walk together to the bathroom so that Samuele can be flanked while he urinates. Roberto also shares his food rations with Samuele and steals food to provide them with a temporary boost of strength.
Despite their efforts to survive together, Samuele is murdered over a petty fight. Roberto manages to escape the camp and trek across Ukraine. The novel ends with Roberto's fate unknown, as he journeys towards Italy.
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Roberto's escape from the concentration camp
As the boys face the horrors of the camp, Roberto's friendship with Samuele, who is Jewish, becomes a source of strength. To protect Samuele, they decide to give him the Catholic-sounding name "Enzo" and Roberto gives him his St. Christopher medal. Despite their efforts, Memo is separated from Roberto and Enzo when they arrive at the camp, leaving the two friends to rely on each other for survival.
Roberto's escape begins when he sneaks off to see a movie in a nearby town. Unbeknownst to him, German soldiers enter the theater and capture all the boys, including Roberto. From there, Roberto is taken far away from his homeland and forced to work, enduring hardships and witnessing the atrocities inflicted on others.
Determined to survive, Roberto uses his resourcefulness to steal food and create diversions. He covers himself with a potato sack and eventually finds an Italian soldier who helps him escape by rowing down a river. As he treks alone across Ukraine, his fate remains uncertain.
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Roberto's journey back home
As he treks across the desolate Ukrainian landscape, Roberto faces hunger and exhaustion. He covers himself with a potato sack to keep warm and safe. He encounters an Italian soldier, and together, they row down the river, a step closer to safety.
Roberto's Catholic faith provides him with strength and comfort during his arduous journey. He recalls the Catholic rituals he practised before the war, such as abstaining from meat on Fridays. He also carries a St. Christopher medal, a symbol of protection and safe travels.
As he moves closer to home, Roberto reminisces about his life in Venice. He remembers the day he sneaked off to watch a movie with his friends Memo and Samuele, unaware that it would be the last time he would see them. He recalls their shared laughter and the excitement of their forbidden friendship, as Samuele was Jewish.
Roberto's journey is filled with grief and loss, but also with hope and resilience. He thinks of Enzo's final words to him, urging him to keep fighting and to never give up. As he crosses the Italian border, Roberto knows that he has finally made it home.
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Roberto's bravery and maturity
Roberto, the protagonist of Donna Jo Napoli's novel 'Stones in Water', is a brave and mature young boy from Venice, Italy. The novel is set during World War II and is based on a true story about children in concentration camps. Roberto and his friends, Memo, Sergio, and Samuele, are sent to work in one of these camps.
As the boys face the harsh realities of the camp, Roberto continues to display courage and maturity. He makes sacrifices for his friends, such as exchanging his food rations to ensure they have enough to eat. He also risks his own safety to help them, creating diversions so they can bathe and regain some sense of dignity amidst their horrific circumstances.
Roberto's bravery is further tested when he escapes the camp and treks alone across Ukraine. He endures starvation and faces unknown dangers, even resorting to covering himself with a potato sack for protection. Despite the immense challenges he faces, Roberto perseveres and eventually finds safety with an Italian soldier, with whom he rows down the river.
Throughout the novel, Roberto's unwavering friendship with Samuele stands out as a remarkable aspect of his character. Even as they face the brutality of war and the constant threat of discovery, Roberto remains loyal and protective of his friend. He makes difficult decisions, such as skipping meals to ensure he doesn't miss out on experiences, showcasing his maturity and determination to live a normal life despite the circumstances.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Roberto is a Catholic boy in the novel Stones in Water.
Stones in Water is a young adult novel by Donna Jo Napoli, set during World War II. It tells the story of two Italian boys, Roberto and Samuele, one of whom is Jewish. The boys are sent to a work camp, and the novel chronicles their struggle to survive, hide Samuele's ethnicity, and eventually, one boy's escape.
Roberto helps his friend Samuele hide his circumcision from the German guards. He also suggests that Samuele change his name to "Enzo" to make it sound more Catholic. Additionally, Roberto gives Samuele his St. Christopher medal to protect him.
