A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

World War

Displacement

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Do you just love it when you get a book in that supplements what a student is studying?  Displacement is one such book. A graphic novel about the Japanese placed into internment camps during WW2.  Kiku from modern San Francisco finds herself transported back into history where she finds herself sharing her grandmother’s time in internment. 

displacement review

What I am Reviewing

First Second always does a great job with their graphic novels, and displacement is no exception.  With good images and succinct text you learn the story well without extraneous language.  Pictures that help tell the story, conveying mood, and introducing stories that some middle-schoolers would otherwise not read.   

Kiku Hughes has written an historical novel taking us back in time.

Kiku is on vacation in San Francisco when suddenly she finds herself displaced to the 1940s Japanese-American internment camp that her late grandmother, Ernestina, was forcibly relocated to during World War II.  ….
Living alongside her young grandmother and other Japanese-American … , Kiku …witnesses the lives of Japanese-Americans who were denied their civil liberties and suffered greatly, but managed to cultivate community and commit acts of resistance in order to survive.

I received an advanced reader copy from Raincoast books to review. 

The Details

You’ll find simple chapter headings.  Starting with the west, and ending with home.  Not every chapter has a unique title, about every other one does.  You’ll find a circle on a mostly white page with a chapter number, without or with a title. 

You’ll find the text small, written in with a block-style text.  Despite the size of the text, I found it easy to read. Each letter written clearly and despite a similar font to the old comic books, very clean in presentation.

displacement

You’ll find ample use of white space and colour.  I loved that facial expressions portrayed a good part of the story.  You could see the hurt, fear, confusion, anger, and moments of joy expressed.  Sorrow was often shown … for lives lost, for hopes crushed, and for the feelings of abandonment by their own government. 

You’ll only get the Japanese-American side of the story, not the governments, or the fear of American society at the time. But the reader will catch a real glimpse into a time period that shaped the Japanese-American culture for years post-WW2.  

I loved how Kiku connected with her mom at the close of the book, able to talk together about the things she experienced, and discovered together more about her grandmother. 

sample page displacement

Should you Get it?

Displacement opened my eyes to a lot of the issues concerning the Japanese-American internment camps.  A scary and difficult time with really no good options for any of these American citizens unjustly imprisoned.

It is well worth getting just for the potential discussion questions.  I do recommend that parents read this book WITH their children.  A lot of issues are presented that taking the time to talk about them together would be beneficial. 

I do need that mention that there is a light female-female romance including a kiss.  I don’t understand the need to add this to the storyline, as the story would have been complete without it. It’s not even a time in history where such choices were acceptable so it didn’t really fit.  It does fit though with one of many issues to discuss. 

On the Horizon

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“Back home, in his
small New York town,
friends got Christmas cards
that year from Silas.

He’d mailed them nine days
before he died.” (p 23, on the horizon)

On the Horizon by Lois Lowry is a quiet reflective look in both sides of World War 2.  Seeing the pain and loss of Pearl Harbour, and later, seeing the pain and loss of Hiroshima.  Poetry that shows the effects of devastation both sides of the war. 

Sometimes we are hit hard by the unexpected.  I did not expect how this lovely book would affect me.  My heart begs you to read this book as well.

In On the Horizon, Lois Lowry did an excellent job of reminding me of the horrors and heroism of the war.  Carefully written lines helping us to the the poignant beauty in people caring for each other in a time of utter stress.

A soldier carrying a boy safely to his dad, a wounded twin crying out in determination to save a brother, a four year riding a tricycle – buried with it, a band ready to play – called to duty – dying in the process.  Hard words, softly written.  Definitely worth a read. 

On the Horizon

Art Work for On the Horizon

Simple drawings dot the pages, just gray-scale pencil drawings. Kenard Pak is the illustrator. In the ARC sample that I received, not all the drawings were complete. The ones there were all relevant to the poem they were connected with, like the outline of a young person standing on a beach or a child riding a tricycle.

On the Horizon

Details about What I am Reviewing

80 pages, 41 pages divided into three sections.  These sections are On the Horizon, Another Horizon, and Beyond the Horizons. She closes with a personal note about her history. So fascinating to see how these events connected with her own personal history.  Reading these personal notes just added to the deepness I felt.

A most excellent book well worthy of being read. I am so delighted that Raincoast books sent it to me!  🙂  Youth (and perhaps their parents) in grades 5-7 should find On the Horizon an easy read. American military history brought to life, showing the impact of war. 

Spies, Lies, and Disguise

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HA!  I like this one.  The word in the Write 31 days challenge is avoid.  My book is Spies, Lies and Disguise.  What do spies want to avoid having done to them?   Being captured!   Today we get to learn how spies worked to avoid being captured in World War Two. 

Spies, Lies, and Disguise review

Spies, Lies, and Disguise: The Daring Tricks and deeds that won World War II.
Jennifer Swanson.
Kevin O’Malley (illustrator).
Bloomsbury Press
160 pages, 9-12 years, grade 5-8.

Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

World War Two, history, spies, disguise, military, Europe,

In the late 1930s, times were desperate. The world found itself at war again, less than twenty years after the first World War had ended. No one could quite believe it. And no one wanted it. The leaders of every country involved were left with no choice. They had to try to end the war as fast as possible, using whatever means they could.

That meant coming up with secret operations meant to deceive, deflect, and confuse their enemies. …… These were all real tactics attempted with the ultimate goal of defeating Hitler. In this off-center look at history, readers will be captivated by the classified and covert efforts made by each side as they tried to gain the upper hand and win the war. Restricted access is lifted to give the reader a peek into the top secret operations of the daring men and women who fought the war under a cloak of secrecy.

Spies, Lies and Disguise

The Details of Spies, Lies, and Disguise

What a fun read.  I know, might not sound like a fun read but I thought it was GREAT.  Not fun as in ha ha joke, but fun because I learned so much!  It was also written in an “invite you in style”.  Not a dry read but quick moving, draw you in, causing you want to know what job comes next. 

Spies, Lies, and Disguise

Each chapter started with a wanted poster. Stating what sort of people were wanted, and then an intriguing title.  Like seriously…wouldn’t you want to know what type of spy a night witch would be?

Spies, Lies and disguise

We are then walked into a scenario, the need for smart people with a particular skill set.    Actual case scenarios are explained and laid out.  This one made me laugh.  The idea that skipping stones could be a useful skill and then discovering that indeed it was!  I was so surprised that I blurted out “it worked!  Skipping bombs worked!”  This of course got my lad’s interest so over he came where I showed him the picture of how the bombs were used.  He was suitably impressed but demanded I don’t tell him anything more so he could read this book on his own.   No spoilers allowed.

spies, lies and disguise

Many of the chapters closed with a short vignette of a helpful spy or a helpful science scoop that directly connected with the chapter.  Occasionally images would be included like this one of the boats.

spies, lies and disguise

Recommendation

If you have any interest in being a spy, in covert activities, code-making, or world war 2… get Spies, Lies, and Disguise.  It is a fascinating look into the world of being a spy.  Whether it be as a look out, or to set a misleading trail, spies were busy confounding the enemy.   It’s approachable style makes it an easy read, with nothing too complicated to understand.   

Some day I will teach (I hope) from this book  in a co-op class.  I think it would a hoot to engage teenagers in how they could do the work of a spy themselves and avoid being captured in the process. 

avoid
disclosure

Survivors of the Holocaust

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You know how my son and I will be studying World War 2 this year?  Breaking it down over two semesters to make for two history credits.  Means lots of in-depth work. My son likes to dig deeply into topics.   Survivors of the Holocaust I think will make a good addition to our studies.   Six stories, six children, affected by the war. Six children facing devastation because they were Jewish.   Not an easy read, but a necessary one yes?

Survivors of the holocaust review

What I am Reviewing

Survivors of the Holocaust: true stories of six extraordinary children.
Kath Shackleton (editor)
Zane Whittingham.
Sourcebooks
Reviewed for Raincoast books.
Trade paperback, 96 pages, grades 3-7, ages 10-14
History, holocaust, Jewish, biography, historical biography, middle school, World War 2, WWII, graphic, comics, true life

This extraordinary graphic novel tells the true stories of six Jewish children and young people who survived the Holocaust. From suffering the horrors of Auschwitz, to hiding from Nazi soldiers in war-torn Paris, to sheltering from the Blitz in England, each true story is a powerful testament to the survivors’ courage. These remarkable testimonials serve as a reminder never to allow such a tragedy to happen again.

Survivors of the holocaust contents

Details of Survivors of the Holocaust

Six people make up the stories in this true life tome.  Six children, families torn apart in Hitler’s world during the war.  Children from Nuremberg, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Poland, Paris and in the area between Poland and Germany called the Polenaktion.   Some with their families, and some without.  Children with hard memories stored, and some needing help to remember this terrible time. 

Survivors of the holocaust

Told in a graphic novel format we are given the highlights of their difficult time.  Tidbits of the good in people were included, like the kindertransport where Jewish children were taken to safety in Britain, or the kindness of a lady pretending a child was her daughter.  Things that mattered, events I want to know more about. 

Survivors of the holocaust

I found each section easy to tell apart as the main colours used changed with each individual. The typeset was a good size and easy to read (always a concern for me with graphic books). 

I absolutely adored that we were left with the children in difficult straits.  At the close of the book we were given an update into their lives.  They went on to live full lives, though some still search for their lost families. 

Survivors of the holocaust

Thoughts/Recommendations

Oh, if you have any interest in the war, get this book.  Help your children see what other children went through.   Six year olds, 13 year olds.  Children suffered under Hitler’s regime.   Use it as a springboard if you need to help them understand that children continue to suffer today.  Not just for being Jewish, but for being the wrong gender, faith, colour, creed or whatever.  Help them to see their potential to step up and help.   But mostly, just let them learn the world’s history.  Help them learn it well so we don’t repeat it.  We mustn’t let this happen again.

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Torpedoed

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I thought when I read the synopsis of this book, that I would learn a bit of history wrapped up in story form.  And I did.  Torpedoed brought me into the lives of a number of children.  Their dreams and friendships, their family lives, and their personalities.  Not only that, I learned about the German side of the equation as well. Let me share this amazing review, telling a spot of the war that I didn’t know before, with you eh?

Torpedoed

What I am Reviewing

Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of ‘The Children’s Ship’
Deborah Heiligman
Henry Holt and Company Books for Young Readers
340 pages, ages 10-14
Received: Advanced Reader’s Copy
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.
Middle School, World War II, War, Ships, Rescue, Torpedo, Military, WW2, WWII, History, Boats, Europe, Survival,

Amid the constant rain of German bombs and the escalating violence of World War II, British parents by the thousands chose to send their children out of the country: the wealthy, independently; the poor, through a government relocation program called CORB. In September 1940, passenger liner SS City of Benares set sail for Canada with one hundred children on board.
When the war ships escorting the Benares departed, a German submarine torpedoed what became known as the Children’s Ship. Out of tragedy, ordinary people became heroes. This is their story.

Torpedoed

The Details about Torpedoed

29 chapters over 304 pages, along with end notes, survivor and death lists and other information.   But this doesn’t tell the full story.   We follow the lives of several children before, during and after the torpedo attack.  Some of those children survive and others do not. 

Torpedoed

This story is told with sensitivity, acknowledging the pain of the families who lost loved ones. Not only that, it acknowledged the pain the operator of the U-boat felt when he learned children were on-board that vessel. 

We are particularly brought into the lives of the CORB children. CORB stands for Children Overseas Reception Board.  These were British children sent to live with relatives in the dominions and United States.  We followed families, brothers and sisters, and individual children.  For some children this was their second attempt to head for safety. 

Torpedoed

I absolutely loved the simple line drawings.  Those black and white pencil sketches fit the nature of this tome so perfectly. 

Torpedoed

Scattered throughout were photos, telegrams, dispatches and the like.  Actual letters and photos from the day.   The author used remembered words and phrases as much as possible.  This story is as true as she can make it be.   Actual accounts as much as can be remembered by survivors and their families.

Torpedoed

My Thoughts/Recommendation

Initially this was a story about details.  Details about families and reasons for choosing to send their children away to safety.  It was a story about the escalation in Germany’s determination to break the British.  Then it changed, it became a story about children with hopes and dreams.  Children sad to be away from their parents.  We learned of children delighted to have a whole ship to explore. 

Then it became a story of decisions.  Of boys turning into men right before my eyes.  Of young ladies showing grit and determination, and suddenly it was a book I needed to finish.  I needed to know if my boy Colin would survive… so I kept reading and my boys listened to my “No, no, no’s”.   

Read, be wrapped up in lives, be saddened, and be hopeful.  Be filled with joy at the ones who were rescued.  Realize the horror of those lost.

This too was part of the war.  Hard for people on both sides. Devastating for families, a heart cry for a nation. Torpedoed is a book worth reading. 

Propaganda of World War 1

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My son has been LOVING doing research papers.  He’s just finished a rather significant one of poison gas, and as he finished he asked “what’s next mom?”  I mentioned we hadn’t talked about propaganda and how it was handled during the war and he was immediately intrigued.   Since it was our research week we set to. 

propaganda in world war 1

First we Watched Videos

Three types of propaganda

  1. Homefront – for people at home
  2. Front – to increase morale among your troops andweaken it in the enemy
  3. Foreign  – to counter the propaganda of the enemy

Censorship and propaganda often went hand in hand.

It was thought that film could easily be used as a method of propaganda even though it was still fairly new.  But it was very difficult to get film of war battles.  They needed permission, subject to censorship, hard to carry and set up, and light sensitive (most battles happened at night). 

Posters were most often directed at men with national emblems surrounding a healthy modern Canadian man.  Shaming posters were also used.  

We enjoyed the sheer variety in the posters. From the Victory Bond posters, to the enlist now. The different units like the Canadian Irish Rangers. We noted that some WW2 posters were slipped in as well.

You want to show the enemy as beatable, and yet you also want to show him as formidable.   Finding that balance was often difficult. 

Then we took to the books

He read selections from these books.

My goal was to have him research one of the foci of propaganda and then do up a poster showing what he learned.   He wants to do this BUT he also wants to write a paper.  I imagine it will take him two weeks to be happy with his research and the paper he comes up with. In the meantime I will learn lots about wartime propaganda! 🙂

Others in this Series

Poison Gas in World War 1

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Did you know that France was actually the first company to use poison gas in World War 1? I didn’t either. Learn more amazing facts in the video below.

Welcome to Our study of Poison Gas of World War 1.

poison Gas of world war 1

My son has been longing to tackle this topic but I deliberately held it off until the nicer weather. I’ve been imagining my son wanting to make smoke bombs and what not to test wind patterns. Nice weather makes that a whole lot easier to do eh? 🙂

BUT on to our study. We watched a number of videos. 🙂

Types of gas used

  • tear gas – not truly dangerous, more of a nuisance
  • chlorine gas – burning eyes, nose, mouth
  • phosgene gas, sometimes mixed with chlorine gas killed 85% of all gases used.
  • mustard gas – the most painful of all gases

Learning about Chlorine gas

Phosgene gas. 85% of all people who died from Chemical warfare died from this gas. Freshly mown gas smell. 80,000 people.

Mustard Gas. Though in this video the creator was wrong in stating that the Germans started the poison gas attacks. They did grab onto the idea rather firmly though. Mustard gas was named for its yellow-brown colour and mustard smell. It was a nasty gas which didn’t dissipate easily and would sink to lower levels and stuck around for years. Exposure to skin contact leads to blistering and burns. It could be very disfiguring.

Learning about the disfigurement of mustard gas led us to learn about Anna Coleman Watts/Ladd and her work making masks for these poor soldiers.

Videos My Son Picked:

This only the first half of this video is on poison gas.

The history of Fritz Haber. Haber was a Jewish German Chemist who thought that chemical warfare would end the war more quickly. Even though it didn’t. He never apologized for his work or actions. As a Jew he was later unwelcome in Hitler’s Germany. He died in Switzerland from a heart attack. He found himself unwelcome in many places due to his work in chemical warfare.

Small box Respirator. This video led us to learn more about the small box respirator through the Canadian War Museum. I think, Lieutenant Dockar, a Canadian, wrote this article. We learned a good bit reading that article. Close up’s of the SBR can be found here.

Reading

The lad did some reading from various books and downloaded product.

Other posts about world  war one