Armed soldiers whom Felix Salinger thought were secret police take Gabriek Borowski into the forest, where Felix assumes they will shoot him. Why does Felix, after successfully hiding from the Nazis for four years, risk almost certain death to dash into the midst of these men and shout that he is a Jew?

In moments of crisis in the early parts of the book, Felix repeatedly prays to Richmal Crompton, the British author of young adult books, for insight and miracles, despite his Jewish heritage. Why might Felix have developed this habit, and why does Gleitzman never mention Judaism as a religious faith in the narrative?

Szulk hates Felix and curses him for being Jewish. Since they are “on the same side” in the fight against the Nazis, why does Szulk hate Felix and ultimately try to kill him?