Synergy: Paper Balloon Bombs

During World War II, incendiary paper balloon weapons were deployed by Japan against the United States. One of these bombs dropped in Oregon causing the only fatalities from enemy action in the continental U.S. during the war. Teen girls in Japan were conscripted to construct the paper balloons.

Read the recently published nonfiction book, then extend the experience through websites:

PEACE IS A CHAIN REACTION by Tanya Lee Stone tells the story of how World War II Japanese balloon bombs ultimately brought people of two nations together. Within the larger context of the war and its aftermath, Stone skillfully shares the complex challenges facing teens during wartime and the long term implications. The true story explores three intersecting stories of peace and forgiveness.

ARC courtesy of Candlewick Press.

JAPANESE PAPER BALLOON is a video from the National Archives and Records Administration. Published during World War II, it’s available through the Internet Archive.

To video the video, go to https://archive.org/details/gov.archives.arc.13084.

The MITCHELL MONUMENT brochure from the US Forest Service shares the story of the attack and the aftermath.

To read the brochure, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5374039.pdf.

An article in Smithsonian Magazine tells the story of the bombing.

To read the article, go to https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/1945-japanese-balloon-bomb-killed-six-americansfive-them-children-oregon-180972259/.

Synergy: Holocaust Survivors

Holocaust survivors are people of Jewish descent who survived persecution and attempted genocide by Nazi Germany and its allies during World War II. The term is also used to describe others who were targeted for annihilation because of their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or political views. Survivors include people who survived concentration camps, stayed in hiding, or escaped to safe territories.

Read the recently published work of graphic nonfiction, then learn more through the websites:

SURVIVORS OF THE HOLOCAUST: TRUE STORIES OF SIX EXTRAORDINARY CHILDREN edited by Kath Shackleton and illustrated by Zane Whittingham recounts the true experiences of six young people who survived the Holocaust. Each chapter tells a powerful story through sparse text and compelling illustrations. The book concludes with photos and “what happened next stories”, a glossary, a timeline, and suggested resources.

The BBC Newsround contains a page titled “What was the Holocaust/“ with easy-to-read information and a short video based on the book. Go to https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/16690175

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum at https://www.ushmm.org/ contains learning and teaching sections useful for students and teachers.

ARC courtesy of Sourcebooks eXplore.

Website Review: National World War II Museum

THE NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MUSEUM website features learning resources telling the story of the war that changed the world.

Located in New Orleans, the museum website contains information about the physical location along with a growing number of online resources.

The War section of the website provides articles, items from the digital collection, WWII polls, and other types of information including text, graphics, and video content.

The Students and Teachers section provides distance learning programs, educator resources, and student resources that explore history topics related to WWII. Of particular note is their electronic field trip connected with the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

Librarians will find these high-quality learning materials appeal to students and teachers alike. Be sure to check out the YouTube channel for lots of video content. Also, examine the classroom website focusing specifically on using the collections in schools.

To visit the website, go to https://www.nationalww2museum.org.
To visit the YouTube channel, go to https://www.youtube.com/user/NationalWW2Museum.
To visit the classroom website, go to https://www.ww2classroom.org/.

Book Review: The War I Finally Won

THE WAR I FINALLY WON by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is a sequel to the award-winning novel THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE.

This coming-of-age, historical fiction novel picks up shortly after the first book ends as Ada prepares for surgery on her club foot. While dealing with the ongoing stress of war, Ada finds comfort in her horse, her brother, and her new family and friends. Lessons from her painful past help her deal with tragedy and also help others along the way.

Librarian will find both the original and the sequel to be a wonderful way to help children experience World War II. This sequel provides enough backstory that it can stand alone for class activities. Consider using both books along with other World War II novels in a literature circle exploring the war from different perspectives.

Published on October 3, 2017 by Dial. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Sabotage

SABOTAGE: THE MISSION TO DESTROY HITLER’S ATOMIC BOMBS by Neal Bascomb is a young adult edition of the best selling adult book “The Winter Fortress”.

This nonfiction narrative tells the true story of a band of young Norwegian commandos who survive in the winter wilderness and execute two dangerous missions to sabotage Nazi plans to build a nuclear bomb. Filled with technical details and vivid descriptions, Bascomb successful brings this historical event to life for readers.

Librarians will find that this fast-paced story of WWII era espionage will be popular among teens who enjoy historical fiction, military works, and narrative nonfiction. The author’s use of primary source documents including many photographs and maps add authenticity and drama to this true story. Add this title to the library’s growing number of quality works of narrative nonfiction for young adults.

Published by Scholastic on May 31, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Girl in the Blue Coat

GIRL IN THE BLUE COAT by Monica Hesse is a compelling historical fiction mystery set in Amsterdam during WWII.

In 1943, Hanneke works in the black market trading goods. When one of her clients asks Hanneke to find a Jewish teen she’s been hiding, Hanneke isn’t sure whether to help or not. However, she soon becomes immersed in the world of the resistance as she tries to solve the mystery of the missing girl.

Librarians will find this historical mystery to be an excellent addition to the growing number of books exploring black market workers and the resistance during WWII. The fascinating characters and fast-paced mystery will keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.

One of the best books of 2016 so far. Don’t miss it.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.monicahesse.com/.

Published by Little Brown, an imprint of Hachette on April 5, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Website Review: I Witness

I WITNESS from the USC Shoah Foundation is a website containing over 1,500 video testimonies, multimedia activities, and digital resources focusing the Holocaust and other genocides.

The Watch section provides users with video clips, activities, terms, graphic organizers, and related topics. Students can select from 50 different topics such as Anti-Jewish Laws, Civil Rights in America, and Labor/Concentration Camps. Or, conduct a name or subject search to find resources.

The Activities section provides tools youth can use to build videos, word clouds, and other projects based on the program’s themes. Each activity includes standards, grade level focus, and time to complete the activity. Users can identify mini-quests, info-quests, and video activities in a variety of subject areas.

The Share section contains project news and announcements. It also provides an area where students can view projects created by other youth. Students can share their projects with others.

Librarians will find this website to be an excellent resource for both students and teachers working on history and social studies projects. Consider participating in the Witness Video Challenge that inspires positive change in communities.

To visit the website, go to http://iwitness.usc.edu/

Book Review: Unlikely Warrior: A Jewish Soldier in Hitler's Army

UNLIKELY WARRIOR: A JEWISH SOLDIER IN HITLER’S ARMY by George Rauch is a fascinating memoir tracing a teen’s experience as a soldier and prisoner-of-war during World War II.

As a young adult in Nazi-occupied Austria, Georg was forced to serve in the German army. Hitler needed able-bodied soldiers to fight his war, so Georg was drafted despite his Jewish ancestry and opposition to the war. As a radio operator in the infantry, Georg was determined to stay alive while facing gunfire, starvation, illness, and often brutal weather conditions.

Organized into three sections, the book explores his life in the trenches, as a prisoner-of-war, and as a refugee heading home. The compelling story moves quickly containing enough action to keep young adults at the edge of their seats. Without getting deep into the social and political aspects of the war, the memoir does a masterful job helping young readers understand the fear and frustrations Georg experienced while being caught between countries and cultures.

The story is told through a combination of the author’s recollections along with the many carefully archived letters he sent to his mother. This use of primary source documents will be particularly appeal to history teachers. Personal photographs, a map and timeline also provide useful information to readers.

Intended for youth ages 12 and up, this first-person account will be popular with students interested in learning more about war from a non-traditional perspective.

Librarians will find this young adult memoir to be an excellent addition to the library collection. Consider working with English and History teachers to build the book into literature circles related to World War II.

Published by Farrar, Stauss & Giroux on February 24, 2015. A publisher ARC was used for the review.