"She'd had her birthday - her tenth birthday - and not a single bit of it had been nice-, Anna says this after getting four presents, "That was all-, and complained about the picnic afterwards. But despite this, Anna shows determination and intelligence when she wins a prize for writing one of the twenty best French compositions in her Certificat D'études exam. She also shows she kind and loving through befriending many people from different countries, regardless of their race or sex and showing them great generosity. Throughout the novel and Anna's adventures, the one thing, which does make it all bearable in Anna's eyes, is that they are all together. So long as they all stay together, it does not really feel as though she has lost everything, and she can even get on and enjoy the challenges which her new life present her with. She believes strongly that family and togetherness is the most important thing of all: " " I don't really mind where or how. I don't mind things being difficult, like not having any money, and I didn't mind about that silly concierge this morning - just as long as we're all four together.""- Family love and family loyalty is thus very important to Anna.
The other main character in the novel is Max, Anna's older brother. Because of the small age difference between them, they are very close. Max is also very determined: "It was amazing, thought Anna, how he went on with his fishing even though he never caught anything-. When Anna and Max move to France, they both, Max especially, feel left out, not being able to understand the language. But Max vows to learn the language rapidly and effectively: "He looked so fierce with the determination in his face."" This shows how Hitler's powerful success in Germany has forced Anna and Max into adapting into different cultures and countries causing them to feel dejected and troubled, but strengthens their will power.
