The Unbreakable Code

The Unbreakable Code by Sara Hoagland Hunter is a children's story book about growing up as a Navajo Native American. John, the little boy doesn't want to go to his English school, but his grandfather sits down with him and tells him about his past. The grandfather didn't want to go to English school either, but it ended up changing his life. He was one of the Navajo's who volunteered for the US Marine Corps after Pearl Harbor was bombed. The Grandfather helped create the code and talked about how he faught in the Pacific Front. It helped John value his language more.

I would definitely use this book to help introduce WWII, or the Code Talkers or even a unit on Navajo Indians. Secondary students could benefit from a children's book and the illustrations in here are GREAT!

Christmas in the Trenches

Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon is a children's book based on a true historical event. The book starts out on Christmas night after all the presents are opened and dinner is finished. Thomas Tolliver asks his grandfather about his favorite Christmas. Thomas’ grandfather tells him about Christmas in 1914 when he was a soldier during the Great War. He describes life in the trenches and how both sides knew there would be no end to the fighting just because it was Christmas. On Christmas night everything was very silent for the soldiers when the German’s began singing Silent Night on the opposite side of no mans land. German soldiers came closer and soon enough all of the soldiers were trading small gifts with one another but eventually they had to go back to their own trenches.

Although this is a picture book, I believe it can be used for students in older grades as well. The book comes with a CD disc with music, which is aweseome. The teacher I was student teaching with last fall spoke of the Chrsitmas in the Trenches and played some music from the era as well.

The Book Thief

I just started reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (I'm about 100 pages in). So far, I'm hooked! I would have finished already if it weren't for the end-of-the-semester assignments to work on!

So far, this YA novel is really intriguing. It's narrated by death, and is set in WWII Germany. The protagonist is young Leisel Meminger, who experiences the pain of death at a young age and is given up to a foster family under odd circumstances.

A local high school teaches The Book Thief in 9th grade. It is almost 600 pages long, so it may be daunting for some students. Has anyone read this? What did you think?

I'll check back when I finish...hopefully soon! =)

UPDATE 5/9/11: I finished the book on Friday and was sad that it was over. The novel really makes you think about life, death, and human nature. Throughout the book, you're prompted to think about the power of words...to heal, to hurt, even to kill--in Hitler's case. The interview at the end of the novel with Zusak is also incredible, as it discusses his thought process in deciding on a narrator and his research!

Copper Sun

Copper Sun by Sharon Draper is a book told from the perspective of a 15 year old African girl named Amari. When pale strangers enter her village, broughten there by a neighboring tribe, the village welcomes them and celebrates as is the custom. Confusion strikes when these pale people begin murdering those who are unfit and capturing the strongest villagers. While her whole family is slaughtered, Amari is beaten, whipped, and taken aboard a ship. Amari realizes she will never return to Africa. Cramped, beaten, and raped aboard the ship Amari is forced to witness horrors she could have never imagined. Once in America, she is sold to a plantation owner as a present for his son's 16th birthday. Survival and escape are the only things Amari dreams of, along with the other slaves on the plantation.

I could not put this book down once I started reading it. It is heart wrenching and vivid with details. The book gives the perpestive of the slave trade through a young girls eyes, which would captivate any reader and hold their attention. I would use this in conjuction with a unit on slavery. The students could read this to get true insight as to what a slave had to endure while serving their master. I recommend everyone puts this on their summer reading list!

Tree Girl

They call Gabriela Tree Gril. Gabi climbs trees to be within reach of the eagles and watch the sun rise into an empty sky. She is at home among the outsretched branches of Guatemalan forests. Then one day from the safety of a tree, Gabi witneses the sights and sounds of an unspeakable massacre. She vows to be Tree Gril no more and joins the hordes of refugees struggling to reach the Mexican border. She has lost her whole family; her entire village has been wiped out. This novel is great for the high school level and allows students the opportunity to learn about a country that is often overlooked.

Podcast from The Boy in Striped Pajamas

An excerpt of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, as read by Ashley.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a story told from the perspective of a nine-year-old boy named Bruno. Bruno and his family live in Berlin until the government promotes his father to Commandant and instructs the family that they will be moving. Bruno’s family moves to a place called “Out-With”, as he pronounces it. Bruno does not like his new home but is intrigued by the people he sees outside his window; all wearing striped pajamas and living inside a fence. Bruno has no idea why these people are there or why they are all wearing striped pajamas, but figures it must be some sort of village. While exploring, Bruno finds the fence and discovers a boy about his age named Shmuel. The two become friends and Shmuel never explains why he is on that side of the fence, other than the fact that the soldiers hate him and his people. Bruno comes to the fence everyday to meet Shmuel and can’t understand why they can’t play together. The story tells of the horrors of the holocaust and innocence of children. The ending will surely touch any reader’s heart.

I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in the Holocaust and would teach it in conjuction with a unit on World War II.