Milkweed

What happens to the Milgroms and Janina at the end of the book?

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Because her mother has recently died, Janina is especially reluctant to leave her family and refuses to stay on the opposite side of the wall with Misha. One day however, the two are unable to return, finding all the holes in the ghetto wall filled back in. Seeing the Jackboots evacuate their companions from the ghetto, the two run to the train station. Misha loses sight of Janina in the crowd. When he finally relocates her, he sees a Jackboot lift and throw her through the crowd. The next moment, another Jackboot Misha recognizes as Uri, shoots him in the ear.

He wakes up alone and disoriented in the train station. Desperate to find Janina again, he leaves the station in search of her. A man finds him asleep near the tracks and brings him back to his farm. He and his wife enslave Misha until the end of the war.

The narrative then flashes forward to Misha's life years in the future. He leaves Poland and moves to New York where he eventually meets a woman, Vivian, and marries. Their relationship dissolves quickly. It is not until she leaves that Misha notices she is pregnant. Many years later, while working in the grocery store, his daughter, Katherine, and granddaughter find him. Misha gives his granddaughter Janina's name for her middle name. Katherine welcomes Misha into their home. His new life with his family grant Misha peace and reconciliation with his past.