Someone Named Eva

Milada is the protagonist and narrator of the story. She is an 11-year-old Czech girl who lives with her father, a farmer, her mother, older brother, younger sister, and grandmother. She spends most of her time with her best friend, Terezie, and the girls enjoy stargazing, racing, riding their bikes, and planning their respective birthday parties. Milada is a complex, round character who undergoes many changes throughout the story.

When the story begins, Milada is blissfully ignorant and innocent, believing her father when he promises that the Nazis will soon leave her town and life will return to normal. Her cares don’t reach further than who will be invited to her birthday party. However, when the Nazis take Milada away from her family and send her to a German training facility, she must learn quickly to adapt. Despite the effects Germanization, Milada is determined to maintain her Czech identity: “No […] My name is Milada” (38). Even when Fräulein Krüger slaps her, Milada is not deterred and works hard to remember who she is.

However, when Milada is adopted, she assimilates into the German family as “Eva” and begins to truly care for the Werners.