Synergy: The Children of World War II

World War II had a deep and lasting impact on children. While some young people lived and died in concentration camps, others were able to escape to England as refugees.

Read two recently published children’s books, then learn more at the websites:

THE MISSING: THE TRUE STORY OF MY FAMILY IN WORLD WAR II by Michael Rosen shares the experiences of the author’s family members along with his own stories of growing up with a legacy of lost family connections. Woven throughout the narrative are works of poetry and references to today’s issues of racism and refugees. This short book concludes with resources to help readers dig deeper into history.

HISTORYWORKS has posted audio files of Michael Rosen’s poetry. The project features over two dozen entries.

To listen to the poems, go to https://audioboom.com/playlists/4613930-michael-rosen-poems.

WE HAD TO BE BRAVE: ESCAPING THE NAZIS ON THE KINDERTRANSPORT by Deborah Hopkinson tells the heartbreaking story of children and teens who survived the Holocaust by escaping to England. Using dozens of true accounts, the author weaves together stories of survival and hope at a time of war. Organized into four parts, the book explores pre-war events, the tipping point, the flight, and the aftermath. The postscripts shares a timeline, glossary, resources, and other useful materials to extend the reading experience.

WHAT WAS KINDERTRANSPORT is a BBC Newsround article focusing on the mission that took thousands of children to safety during World War II. The article features text, historical photographs and interviews.

To read the BBC article, go to https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/46877532.

ARC courtesy of Candlewick and Scholastic.

Book Review: Illegal

ILLEGAL by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin is a graphic novel examining a child refugee’s struggle to survive.

Alternating between past and present, this full-color graphic novel follows the quest of a Ghanaian refugee trying to reconnect with his siblings in Europe. As the fast-paced story unfolds, young readers are exposed to the horrific realities of crossing hostile borders and trying to survive in unbearable conditions.

Don’t miss the backmatter that effectively connects the fictional story to the real lives of refugees.

Librarians will find this middle grade book to be an excellent addition to the library’s growing collection of books about refugees. Feature it in a display exploring immigration issues. Work with English and social studies teachers to build an interdisciplinary unit weaving in this timely title.

Published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky on August 7, 2018. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Website Review: Unfairy Tales

UNFAIRY TALES is a collection of animated stories exploring the plight of Syrian refugees.

Produced for UNICEF, the website contains three sections: Malak and the Boat, Mustafa Goes for a Walk, and The Story of Ivine and Pillow. In addition, videos show the children telling their stories.

Librarians will find this website to be useful in talking with children about issues regarding child refugees. Students will be particularly interested in how the children narrated the stories themselves.

To visit the website, go tohttps://www.unicef.org/em…/childrenonthemove/unfairytales/en.

Website Review: The Boat

THE BOAT tells the compelling interactive story of a boat of refugees.

In the 1970s and 1980s, hundreds of thousands of refugees fled Vietnam by boat. Produced by SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) Television in Australia, this interactive narrative tells the story of one family trying to survive in a small boat. Using a graphic novel style approach, readers scroll through a series of six chapters as they follow Mai on a sea voyage across dangerous waters.

Librarians will find this interactive experience to be an effective way to jumpstart conversations about both history and immigration issues.

To read this story, go to http://www.sbs.com.au/theboat/.

Technology Review: In the News: Refugees

IN THE NEWS: REFUGEES by Annenberg Learner provides high-quality curriculum resources for teaching about refugees.

The web-based resource is divided into student and teacher sections.

The Student Section provides links to content resources about the refugee crisis and the connection issue of immigration. Students can hear stories of ordinary people forced to flee their homes to escape violence and persecution. Links are provided to online exhibits that explore the lives of refugees from around the world, collections of stories about refugees that made their way to the United States, and art exhibits focusing on cultural connections. Finally, two resources explore maps related to displacement of people and immigration patterns.

The Teacher Section provides links to activities, lesson plans, and other professional development resources focusing on the refugee crisis and the related topic of immigration. Activities connect youth to photographs, literature, and writing projects. Lesson plans focus on the connection of migration to population and resource distribution. Articles explore the history of human migration, ancient immigration, immigration law, and public empathy for refugees.

Librarians will find that the topic of refugees and immigration can be woven across the curriculum. From map and data literacy to social issues projects, this hot-button issue works well for digital and information literacy curriculum connections.

To learn more, go to the website athttp://www.learner.org/resources/refugees/.

Book Review: Salt to the Sea

SALT TO THE SEA by Ruta Sepetys tells the story of refugees on a dangerous journey at the end of World War II in Europe.

Joana, Emilia, and Florian along with thousands of others make their way along dirt roads and the back country in hopes of finding a place on a ship to freedom. Told through alternative voices, readers learn the backstory of each character and how they came together in these desperate times. In addition to the three refugees, readers also gain insights into the life of a German soldier named Alfred. Along the way, the author skillfully integrates important war topics including the loss of great artwork, rape by soldiers, and prejudice.

This well-researched young adult work of historical fiction weaves in true events including the tragic sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff carrying ten thousand wounded soldiers and refugees. The back matter includes author notes connecting the real events to the narrative along with sources, maps, and other information.

Librarians will find this book to be an excellent addition to their World War II historical fiction collections. The alternating viewpoints and variety of well-developed characters will be of particular interest to teen readers. The constant threats and ever-changing landscapes help the plot move quickly.

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

Published by Philomel, an imprint of Penguin on February 2, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.