One of the main themes used in Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay is Anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism is a hatred of Jews regardless of place of birth, residence or contribution to society. In the story anti-Semitism is first made clear when the Jews in Paris are forced to sew yellow stars on their clothes and carry identity cards identifying them as "Jew" or "Jewess". Sirka and her friends are immediately treated differently by friends at school and heavy restrictions are placed on every day activities from shopping to play time.

Anti-Semitism reached a new height during World War II. German dictator Adolph Hitler had a plan to rid the world of Jews so that he could promote white supremacy throughout the world to create what he referred to as the perfect race. The Jews did not fit into Hitler's plan as they were seen as less than desirable, less...