Synergy: World War I

World War I (1914-1918) was one of the most deadly global conflicts in human history. In addition to the estimated 9 million people killed in combat, another 5 million civilians died as a result of the conflict. 

Read the recently published nonfiction book for young adults, then learn more at the websites:

WORLD WAR I: THE GREAT WAR TO END ALL WARS by Julie Knutson is part of the Inquire & Investigate series. This interdisciplinary text explores the events that led to the war along with key battles. Using photographs, graphic novel-style illustrations, and primary source documents, readers learn about both the home-front and global aspects of the war. Useful fact boxes, sidebars, and questions are likely to engage reluctant learners. ARC courtesy of Nomad Press.

1914-1918 ONLINE is an international encyclopedia focusing on the First World War. Readers can explore the website through a timeline, themes, regions, or article topics.

To visit the website, go to https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/.

Synergy: Photojournalist

A PHOTOJOURNALIST is a person who uses images to share current events. Their ethical approach to news gathering demands an honest, impartial approach to communicating a story through visuals. Their work often requires that they overcome physical and emotional challenges such as war and severe weather.

Read the recently published nonfiction book for young adults, then learn more at the websites:

CLOSE-UP ON WAR: THE STORY OF PIONEERING PHOTOJOURNALIST CATHERINE LEROY IN VIETNAM by Mary Cronk Farrell shares the experiences of a female journalist during the Vietnam war. Using a scrapbook approach, the engaging narrative weaves in photographs, letters, and other primary resources. This well-researched, action-packed biography provides insights into the impact of the war on both the soldiers and the Vietnamese people. The end-matter is filled with useful additional materials.

UP HILL 881 WITH THE MARINES is a 1967 Life Magazine article featuring photos by Catherine Leroy.

Go to https://books.google.com/books?id=TVYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA40

CATHERINE LEROY is a website featuring a short biography and photographs.

Go to https://dotationcatherineleroy.org/en/ 

PHOTOJOURNALISM from the Tate Museum defines the topic and provides examples.

Go to https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/p/photojournalism

ARC courtesy of Amulet/Abrams.

Synergy: Prudence Cummings Wright

PRUDENCE CUMMINGS WRIGHT (1740-1824) organized and lead a women’s militia in Pepperell, Massachusetts during the American Revolution.

Read the recently published picture book, then learn more at the websites:

REVOLUTIONARY PRUDENCE WRIGHT: LEADING THE MINUTE WOMEN IN THE FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE written by Beth Anderson and illustrated by Susan Reagan tells the inspiring story of Prudence Wright and the “minute women” of Pepperell, Massachusetts. Organizing and leading a group of resourceful women, she rallies support against British policies and defends her town against Tory invaders.

PRUDENCE WRIGHT from the American Battlefield Trust provides a short biography.

Go to https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/prudence-wright

PRUDENCE WRIGHT AND THE WOMEN WHO GUARDED THE BRIDGE is a book written by Mary Shattuck in 1912 providing details about Wright and her minute women. It contains interesting references to primary source materials.

Go to http://www.pepperellhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/PrudenceWright.pdf

COVERED BRIDGE OVER THE NASHUA RIVER is an article at the Pepperell MA townsite describing the history of the bridge in the story. 

Go to https://town.pepperell.ma.us/160/Covered-Bridge-Over-the-Nashua-River

BETH ANDERSON’s website contains resources for teachers interested in using the book in the curriculum.

Go to https://bethandersonwriter.com/revolutionary-prudence-wright-leading-the-minute-women-in-the-fight-for-independence/

ARC courtesy of Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers.

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: 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.

Digital Spotlight: Echoes of the Great War

ECHOES OF THE GREAT WAR: AMERICAN EXPERIENCES OF WORLD WAR I from the Library of Congress tells stories from the Veteran’s History Project.

Contents: A companion to a larger “Experiencing War” project, this website contains three sections: Arguing Over War and Over Here, Over There, and A World Overturned. Each part includes an introduction, then connects users to specific narratives from the large digital collection. Primary source materials include audio interviews, photos, diaries, letters, and other materials.

Classroom Connections: Teachers will find this project useful in connecting the experiences of individuals to the larger war effort. Ask students to explore a narrative and compare their story with others.

Featured Digital Objects:
Hillie John Franz
http://memory.loc.gov/…/vhp-st…/loc.natlib.afc2001001.12617/
Gustav Hermann Kissel
http://memory.loc.gov/…/vhp-st…/loc.natlib.afc2001001.37555/
Roland H. Neel, Sr.
http://memory.loc.gov/…/vhp-st…/loc.natlib.afc2001001.01875/

To visit the collection, go to http://www.loc.gov/vets/stories/,

Book Review: The Treasure Box

THE TREASURE BOX by Margaret Wild tells the moving story of a boy and his father who save a book after their library is destroyed during war.

This poignant story traces the life of a boy who helps save a book from destruction and later places the book in a new library.

Librarians will find this hopeful story to be useful in discussing topics related to war, emmigration, and cultural heritage.

Published by Candlewick Press on April 25, 2017. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Eyes of the World

EYES OF THE WORLD by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos tells the true story of Robert Capa, Gerda Taro, and the invention of modern photojournalism.

This well-illustrated work of narrative nonfiction examines how Robert Capa and Gerda Taro become pioneers in the field of photojournalism during the Spanish Civil War. Each short chapter focuses on a specific idea or event and weaves in well-captioned photos to help tell the story. The book includes photographs along with maps and other primary source documents.

Librarians will find young adult readers enjoy the combination of narrative nonfiction and historical photos. Connect photojournalism to add a new dimension to the study of history and the study of war. Add this title to the library’s growing collection of books visually-rich narrative nonfiction biographies.

Published by Henry Holt & Company on March 28, 2017. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Digital Spotlight: Japanese Relocation During World War II

JAPANESE RELOCATION DURING WORLD WAR II from the National Archives features twenty digital objects related to Japanese Internment.

Contents: After providing background information and other resources, the page provides access to specific objects housed at the National Archives. From Executive Orders and reports to photos and posters, this easy-to-use page provides a brief description, identifier, and link to each document.

Classroom Connections: Teachers of all ages will find this page to provide quick access to key documents useful in teaching about Japanese relocation during World War II. These primary resources will bring the event alive for students reading historical fiction about this time period.

Featured Digital Objects:
Executive Order https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=74
Children in Internment Camp https://www.archives.gov/…/japan…/images/children-pledge.gif
High School Students https://www.archives.gov/…/japanese-…/images/high-school.gif

To visit the collection, go tohttps://www.archives.gov/educat…/lessons/japanese-relocation.

Website Review: Tracking Ivory

TRACKING IVORY from National Geographic explores the human toll of ivory poaching in Africa.

This web resource is divided into three sections: gallery, map, and article. The gallery presents a series of photographs narrated by a National Geographic journalist. The map section provides an interactive series of visuals showing the smuggling routes and locations of the illegal ivory trade. Finally, a ten-part article explores how the ivory trade finances ongoing conflict in Africa.

Librarians will find this well-researched and highly visual website to be useful in informational reading activities in social studies.

To explore this resource, go to http://www.nationalgeographic.com/tracking-ivory/.

Digital Collection: War of 1812

WAR OF 1812Indiana University

Contents: This collection includes thousands of documents exploring the War of 1812 including materials from before the war, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, and after the war. For easy access, use the timeline, maps, or browse the collection.

Classroom Connections: Use this collection along with classroom resources such as the Thinkport Project at http://warof1812.thinkport.org and the Interactive Battlefield Map at http://1812battles.org. Ask youth to select key digital items that reflect the time period or provide insights into a particular place or event.

Featured Digital Objects:
Declaration of War - https://goo.gl/vfk34f
Battle of Niagara Painting - https://goo.gl/qTEUEC
Battle of New Orleans News - https://goo.gl/AmzRJv

To visit the collection, go to http://collections.libraries.indiana.edu/warof1812/

Digital Collection: Civil War in the American South

CIVIL WAR IN THE AMERICAN SOUTHDigital Library of Georgia

Contents: This multi-agency collection of over 10,000 documents explores the history and culture of the American South. The resource is organized into collections focusing on specific areas such as letters, diaries, broadsides, and photographs.

Classroom Connections: Involve youth in focusing on a particular collection and connecting it with key Civil War events. For instance, create a timeline showing the dates of the letters of a soldier and connect them with key dates during the war. Or, locate a broadside or map and discuss its connection to a battle.

Featured Digital Objects:
Confederate Broadsides - https://goo.gl/IM9rdH
Battle map - https://goo.gl/LlldhN

To visit the collection, go to http://american-south.org/

Website Review: The Living Room Candidate

THE LIVING ROOM CANDIDATE from the Museum of Moving Image features U.S. presidential campaign commercials from 1952 though 2016.

The website includes both political advertisements as well as educational resources and tools.

The Commercials section is organized by election year. Each election features background information, candidate information, results, and commercials.

The Type of Commercials section explores ads by topic such as commercials that backfired. Users can learn about the topic and view videos.

The Issue section features topics including civil rights, corruption, taxes, war, and welfare.

The Curator’s Choice section examines examples of effective strategies.

Users can also view playlists and create their own projects. Teachers can download lessons. The Admaker tool can be used to edit videos. Additional resources are also available.

Librarians will find this website to be a valuable tool for government and history classes. The resources are easy to access and use.

To visit the website, go to http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/.

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.

Book Review: Pax

PAX by Sara Pennypacker is a powerful animal fantasy exploring the journeys of a boy and his fox.

With his mother dead and his father going off to war, twelve-year-old Peter is forced to abandon his pet fox Pax and go live with his grandfather hundreds of miles away.

This gripping story is told in alternating chapters through the eyes of Peter and Pax as they try to survive in their new worlds and reunite with each other. Whether caring for his new companions or treasuring his toy soldier, the author is most successful when speaking through the eyes of Pax.

Librarians will find that this story of companionship, survival, and redemption is sure to capture the hearts of middle grade readers. While some youth may enjoy the fable-like, timeless quality, others may find this lack of specificity annoying.

From the flowing narrative to the simple illustrations, this heartbreaking tale has the makings of a classic.

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

To learn more about the illustrator, go to http://jonklassen.tumblr.com/.

Published by Balzer and Bray, an imprint of Harper Collins on February 2, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Samurai Rising

SAMURAI RISING by Pamela Turner tells the legendary story of Minamoto Yoshitsune.

Set in twelfth century Japan, young Yoshitsune is just a baby when his father is killed and his mother captured by a rival family. While living in a monastery, Yoshitsune learns warrior arts, becomes a samurai, and defeats his enemies.

Blending historical facts with classic literature, the author successfully creates a biography that’s both engaging for readers and based on actual people, places, and events. The fascinating illustrations draw readers into the story.

Short, chronological chapters focus on key events in the life of Yoshitsune. The list of characters and places, author’s notes, timelines, glossary, chapter notes, bibliography, and index make this book can excellent nonfiction information source for youth. The many maps also add to the usability.

Librarians know how difficult it can be to interest some youth in biographies. This action-packed biography is perfect for fans of the samurai and Japanese history. Because this work of nonfiction narrative reads like a novel, youth who enjoy a story approach will be drawn to this biography.

This well-researched biography will be popular among youth who enjoy the violence and valor found in twelfth century Japan.

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

Published by Charlesbridge on February 2, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Paper Wishes

PAPER WISHES by Lois Sepahban tells the heartbreaking story of a family sent to a Japanese-American relocation camp during World War II.

Ten-year-old Manami and her dog lead a happy life in Washington until her family is uprooted and imprisoned in a California camp called Manzanar far from home. Manami is deeply affected by her missing dog and refuses to speak. The love of her family and a compassionate teacher keep hope alive.

The author’s moving story and simple, vivid descriptions of camp life bring this tragic piece of American history alive for middle grade readers.

Librarians will find this work of historical fiction to be an excellent addition to their growing collection focusing on World War II Japanese internment camps. An author’s note provides background information about this tragic chapter of American history.

The short length of the book will make it popular among intermediate readers looking for a “skinny book” to read.

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

Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, an imprint of Macmillan on January 5, 2015. ARC courtesy of publisher.

Book Review: The Emperor of Any Place

THE EMPEROR OF ANY PLACE by Tim Wynne-Jones tells the engrossing, multi-generational story of family relationships and survival during war.

After his father dies, Evan’s estranged grandfather comes to visit opening family secrets reaching back to World War II. At the heart of the story lies the truth behind a soldier’s diary. With elements of magical realism, readers will become immersed in conflicts both past and present.

The author’s use of dual storylines will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Librarians will find a broad readership for this story that includes those who enjoy realistic fiction with hits of fantasy, multi-generational mysteries, as well as young history buffs.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.timwynne-jones.com/.

Published by Candlewick October 13, 2015. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: An Inheritance of Ashes

AN INHERITANCE OF ASHES by Leah Bobet is a gripping young adult fantasy exploring issues of war, family, and community.

Sisters Hallie and Marthe are alone on their family farm in the aftermath of a war. A mysterious veteran, the arrival of “twisted things,” and strange stone messages mark the beginning of a fight for survival.

This work of dystopia fiction has the feel of historical fiction, monster fantasy, and even the horror genre. However, at it’s core is a story of family, friendship, and forgiveness that transcends genres.

Librarians will find that this unusual fantasy appeals to a broad spectrum of readers.

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

Published by Clarion on October 6, 2015. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Most Dangerous

MOST DANGEROUS: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE VIETNAM WAR by Steve Sheinkin is a powerful, nonfiction narrative exploring issues of war, espionage, and government trust.

Written for young adults, Sheinkin skillfully tells the story of Daniel Ellsberg, an analyst who exposes decades of government deceit. Tracing Ellsberg’s life from his boyhood through to the end of the Vietnam War, the author weaves together an unbiased look at the man who exposed what became known as the Pentagon Papers.

Librarians will find a large audience for this book among the growing YA fans of narrative nonfiction. In addition, the combination of war and government secrets will be attractive to readers who enjoy military and spy stories.

Youth will be drawn to connections with recent whistleblowers like Edward Snowden described in the book’s epilogue.

For many librarians who remember this time period or have read books like “All the President’s Men”, this provocative biography will help put the time period in context and revisit the key issues and events in an easy to digest chronology.

Look for this title on the “best of 2015” lists.

Learn more about the author at http://stevesheinkin.com/.

Published by Roaring Brook Press an imprint of Macmillan on September 22, 2015. ARC from publisher.