In the novel, Stones in Water, the main character, Roberto deals with many conflicts dealing with identity, prejudice, and friendship. Some of the major conflicts involve when he is captured along with his friends and taken to a prison camp. He and Memo try to hide the face that Enzo (Samuele) is Jewish. When another boy in the camp finds that Enzo is Jewish he blackmails Enzo for more food. Roberto has to fight against extreme conditions to survive, often having to strip the clothing off of dead bodies so that he can live.
