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Memorable WWII Reading
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From: Hansen <hansen>
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 1997 16:03:22 -0500
Hi Ginny and others, I just had to jump in since this topic has been of continuing interest to me, perhaps because I lived through this time period and several of our close family friends were refugees from Europe, even survivors of the death camps. On a somewhat lighter note, my husband grew up in occupied Norway and used to throw snowballs at German soldiers who were based in his west-coast town. ( He also accepted their offers of good German chocolate!) When I was school librarian, I found that this topic was a magnetic draw for young readers in 5-8th grades, especially after I read portions of these stories aloud during classroom visits, etc. Someone already mentioned Rose Blanche, a thought provoking picture book for older children (and adults!) and The Island on Bird Street. Those are two of my favorites too. Here are a few other suggestions. (Some may be more autobiographical than fiction.)
For younger readers: Joanna Reiss' The Upstairs Room (and its sequel, Journey Back ??) Yoshiko Uchida's Journey to Topaz and Journey Home (internment of Japanese Americans in the U.S.) Dale Fife's North of Danger - A Norwegian boy and his attempt to help in the Resistance
For older middle schoolers: The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig, an autobiographical account of her family's exile from Poland during WWII. (I read this aloud to 6th graders, and they were fascinated with it. They started a correspondence with the author; her letters back to them were wonderful!)
Two books that I would use together if I were still teaching: Crutches (by Peter Hartling) which is set in Austria or Germany, and So Far From the Bamboo Grove (by Yoko Kawashima Watkins), set in Korea. These are both WWII refugee stories, with a young person and family members fleeing, separated, and finally surviving. What a contrast to the way in which young Americans face their adolescence today!
Thanks to all of you for your suggestions; I'm keeping a list for future reading.
Miriam Hansen, Consultant (hansen at ifls.lib.wi.us) Indianhead Federated Library System 1538 Truax Blvd. Eau Claire, WI 54703 Tel: 715?9P82; FAX: 715?9Q51
Received on Wed 22 Oct 1997 04:03:22 PM CDT
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 1997 16:03:22 -0500
Hi Ginny and others, I just had to jump in since this topic has been of continuing interest to me, perhaps because I lived through this time period and several of our close family friends were refugees from Europe, even survivors of the death camps. On a somewhat lighter note, my husband grew up in occupied Norway and used to throw snowballs at German soldiers who were based in his west-coast town. ( He also accepted their offers of good German chocolate!) When I was school librarian, I found that this topic was a magnetic draw for young readers in 5-8th grades, especially after I read portions of these stories aloud during classroom visits, etc. Someone already mentioned Rose Blanche, a thought provoking picture book for older children (and adults!) and The Island on Bird Street. Those are two of my favorites too. Here are a few other suggestions. (Some may be more autobiographical than fiction.)
For younger readers: Joanna Reiss' The Upstairs Room (and its sequel, Journey Back ??) Yoshiko Uchida's Journey to Topaz and Journey Home (internment of Japanese Americans in the U.S.) Dale Fife's North of Danger - A Norwegian boy and his attempt to help in the Resistance
For older middle schoolers: The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig, an autobiographical account of her family's exile from Poland during WWII. (I read this aloud to 6th graders, and they were fascinated with it. They started a correspondence with the author; her letters back to them were wonderful!)
Two books that I would use together if I were still teaching: Crutches (by Peter Hartling) which is set in Austria or Germany, and So Far From the Bamboo Grove (by Yoko Kawashima Watkins), set in Korea. These are both WWII refugee stories, with a young person and family members fleeing, separated, and finally surviving. What a contrast to the way in which young Americans face their adolescence today!
Thanks to all of you for your suggestions; I'm keeping a list for future reading.
Miriam Hansen, Consultant (hansen at ifls.lib.wi.us) Indianhead Federated Library System 1538 Truax Blvd. Eau Claire, WI 54703 Tel: 715?9P82; FAX: 715?9Q51
Received on Wed 22 Oct 1997 04:03:22 PM CDT
