Eyes of the Emperor
Salisbury, Graham. 2005. Eyes of the Emperor. Wendy Lamb Books. New York, NY. ISBN 978-0385386562
PLOT SUMMARY
Eddy Okubo, a Japanese American teenager living in Hawaii, decides to enlist in the Army by faking his age. Several days later Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japanese air strikes. Eddy never imagined his life was going to change drastically after those accounts. Eddy realizes that all Japanese, even those born in the United States are treated as enemies. Together with a group of other Japanese American soldiers, they are sent to a remote island to undergo a secret mission. In this mission they are treated as dog bait, where the dogs had to find the Japanese soldiers in the island and attack them.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Eyes of the Emperor is a historical fiction story that recounts the events that occurred to Japanese Americans who joined the Army during the Pearl Harbor Attacks. The author uses teenage dialect to make the scenes more vivid and memorable. The description of the Japanese Americans details how they tried to assimilate the culture, but how it was difficult for those who had been born in Japan. The language and vocabulary is simple to understand and emphasize the type of language. The use of powerful and dramatic action takes the reader to experience what was lived by these soldiers. The book contains a glossary with Hawaiian, Hawaiian Pidgin, and Japanese words to help the readers understand. Although the story is fiction, many of the characters as well as the setting were real and took place in an important time for Americans.
REVIEW
Kirkus Review “Morally and psychologically complex, historically accurate and unforgettably gripping”.
CONNECTIONS
For those whose family immigrated from other countries and found difficulties in adapting to the new country.
For those who take interest in learning about events happening during WWII
Other related books:
Displacement by Kiku Hughes
Paper Wishes by Lois Sepahban
Under the Red Blood Sun by Graham Salisbury
Activities:
Research events that happened during Pearl Harbor. In groups, create a Newspaper and write articles with information about the experiences lived in during that period of time.
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One Crazy Summer
Williams- Garcia Rita. 2010. One Crazy Summer . Harper Collins. New York, NY. ISBN 978-0060760908
PLOT SUMMARY:
One Crazy Summer is a story about three African American sisters who travel from Brooklyn to Oakland, California to visit their estranged mother in the summer of 1968. Eleven- year old Delphine and his younger sisters Vonetta, and Fern are sent to visit their mother who abandoned them when the youngest was just a baby. The girls embark on an unexpected journey and are greeted by their cold, distant mother, Cecile. Delphine, being the oldest, realizes that things in California are different than at home with her dad and grandmother. To begin with they are sent to a summer camp sponsored by a revolutionary group known as the Black Panthers. Delphine, being the authoritative older sister, is caught up in a world of protecting her sisters, but exposing them to a new reality, the treatment of colored people.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book relates to American history during the time when African Americans wanted their voices heard and form the revolutionary group, the Black Panthers. Although the girls have grown up in a different environment where their dad does not follow these ideologies, their long-lost mother Cecile joins the Black Panthers and expresses her emotions and frustrations about her people's treatment through creative poetry. Each character's voice and personality is expressed through the dialogue between the three sisters. Their tone, use of slang, even funny rhymes are used throughout the story. The mood of the story is entertaining, sometimes cynical, but honest as the young girls realize their mother does not care much for them or have any motherly instincts. The theme of the story is one of social justice, racial prejudice, and black pride. The 1960s Civil Rights Movement is depicted through the conversations Delphine has at the summer camp she and her sisters attend.
REVIEW:
Booklist- “Set during a pivotal moment in African American history, this vibrant novel shows the subtle ways that political movements affect personal lives; but just as memorable is the finely drawn, universal story of children reclaiming a reluctant parent’s love.”
Publisher’s Weekly- “ Williams-Garcia (Jumped ) evokes the close-knit bond between three sisters, and the fervor and tumultuousness of the late 1960s, in this period novel featuring an outspoken 11-year-old from Brooklyn, N.Y.”
Awards:
Newbery Honors
Scott O’ Dell Award for Historical Action
National Book Award Finalist
Coretta Scott King Award
CONNECTIONS
For those who want to learn about racial prejudice and minorities
For those who want to learn more about the Civil Rights Era
Other related books:
Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Mexikid by Pedro Martin
Red, White, and Whole by Lajani Larroca
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Activities:
In groups, students make a timeline of the political and social changes of the 1960s.
Research key figures and terms associated with the Civil Rights Movement.
Paperboy
Vawter, Vince. 2014. Paperboy. Yearling. New York. NY. ISBN 978-0307931511
PLOT SUMMARY
A young 6th grade Victor, who goes by Little Man, has a stuttering problem, and although he tries his best to speak clearly, he is just unable to say the majority of words without the words sounding stammered. One summer, his best friend asks him to take over his paper route. Victor is nervous knowing that it is difficult for him to speak to others. However, he meets interesting people while delivering the newspaper. One of the special people he meets is Mr. Spiro, a smart and kind sailor, who makes Victor understand that value does not always come from speaking. Throughout the story he is taken care of by his African American nanny, which he calls Mam. Mam insists that Victor stay away from Ara T, a junkman who walks the alleys of the neighborhood collecting trash. Victor experiences the inequalities and prejudices against colored people and does not quite understand why it happens.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Vince Vawter brings in several important themes into this book: disabilities, social injustices, and racial prejudice. Victor is made fun of and bullied for his stuttering throughout the story, and although he tries his best to ignore the situation, he feels frustrated to not be able to speak clearly. Furthermore, he sees that his nanny, Mam, is unable to do many things white people can regularly do, such as go to the zoo on any given day, or ride the bus up front. The novel takes place in the summer of 1959, at a time when the Civil Rights Movement was beginning to take force.Towards the end of the book his parents worry about the changes in the school system once segregation is terminated. The story is written in first person, Victor’s perspective. The author uses Victor's stuttering as part of the writing, and omits commas. The language is simple as it is coming from a young boy. This book is the first in a series of three books.
REVIEW
School Library Journal- “Vawter portrays a protagonist so true to a disability that one cannot help but empathize with the difficult world of a stutterer.”
Kirkus Reviews “An engaging and heartfelt presentation that never whitewashes the difficult time and situation as Little Man comes of age.”
Awards:
A Newbery Honor Award Winner
An ALA-ALSC Notable Children’s Book
An IRA Children’s and Young Adults’ Choice
An ALA-YALSA Amazing Audiobook
CONNECTIONS
For those who want to learn more about the Civil Rights Movement.
For those with a speech impediment or disability that causes a loss of self-esteem
Other related books:
Copyboy by Vince Vawter
The Watsons go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis
Activity:
Divide the students into groups. Choose a theme from the novel (social injustice, racial prejudice, disabilities, stuttering) Then create a collage with pictures that depict why those themes are important and write a reflection of why those themes were important in that time. Share with the class.
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The Boy in the Barn
Phelan, Matt. 2009. The Storm in the Barn. Ill. by Matt Phelan. Candlewick Press. Somerville, Massachusetts. ISBN 978-0763636180
PLOT SUMMARY
Jack Clark, is a young 11 year old boy who is experiencing what many children experience at that age, bullying. His father is bitter and upset about the dust storm situation happening in Kansas and the lack of rain and unfortunately takes it out on Jack. This is about the time the Dust Bowl begins to destroy much of the United States. With a serious drought of almost four years, Jack believes he can save his family from this situation by bringing back rain. Believing that he has a case of “dust dementia”, Jack imagines a tall dark figure in the barn. This figure resembles the rain that has been lost and gone from the land.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This graphic novel shares a time in history when many American families lose everything they have due to the terrible drought. The drawings depict the clouds and swirls of dust that hit the area and get many people sick. The colors used in the drawings describe the solemn mood of the time: gray, brown, and dark blue. The few scenes that recall the times of plentiful harvest and ranching have added bright colors.
Most of the characters have a glum and somber face, portraying the feeling of the time. With everything lost with the drought, hope seems to be far gone. With a few words the author is able to describe the situation and the character’s emotions.
REVIEW
Booklist- “A thoughtful, contemplative homage to storytelling and storytellers, which, in the tradition of the greatest tall tales, presents an empowering message that all a child needs to change the world is courage and ingenuity.”
School Library Journal (starred review) “Children can read this as a work of historical fiction, a piece of folklore, a scary story, a graphic novel, or all four.”
The Horn Book (starred review)- “Measured, masterful panel pacing….use of color is simply stunning…potent subtext informs both Jack’s climactic showdown with the rain figure and the book’s tender, triumphant resolution.”
Awards:
Scott O’ Dell Award for Historical Fiction
CONNECTIONS:
For those that like to learn about events in history such as the dust bowl.
For those who have experienced a loss and believe it difficult to find hope.
Other related books:
The Boy who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba
Out of Dust by Karen Hesse
Activity:
Pair up students to research about the United States during the Dust Bowl. Make a timeline of the events.
Have students draw pictures of what they imagined the rain Jack saw looked like.
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