Reading Journal: Things to think about and write about as you read (keeping in mind that these questions are a starting point and that to impress me that you have delved into the story on a deeper level you need to provide lots of examples, details, and even subtleties). Your journal should be interactive with questions, comments, and reactions.
Terms to know: Alien Land Bill, Executive Order 9066, Issei, Nisei, and Sansei
In chapter 1 we learn background about Jeannes family and a bit of history about her father that will be relevant throughout the story. Where do they live? What does her father do for a living? Why does Pearl Harbor change everything about their lives? (Bonus: how would you and your family respond if you were in a situation like
this?)
In chapters 3 5 we learn about how the family (and other internees) adjust to camp life. What are some of the issues/problems? How do Jeannes older brothers go about making life in camp more bearable. Why does she use the title Almost a Family for chapter 5? What do we learn of other families? Do you think Jeannes innocent narrator voice is useful in the way she tells the story? Why or why not?
Chapter 6 gives us a history of Jeannes father, Ko, and gives us a more adult perspective on camp life and the political and social issues involved. What do we learn of Ko? His story carries over in chapter 7 with an imagined interview that sheds light on the plight of Ko Wakatsuki (and presumably many other Japanese-Americans), which carries over into chapter 8, where we learn the word inu, a derogatory word that provides insight into the internal politics of the camp. What does all of this mean? Can you predict how this might all turn out?
Chapters 7, 8 and 9 give us a better look at the plight of the internees as well as a deeper understanding of the political and social elements of camp life. What are the causes of the riot? What does the word bakatare mean? Do you have any predictions for what will happen next?
What are the implications of the Yes Yes No No chapter? Why does Woody want to enlist? What is his fathers reaction? If you were Woody, what would you choose to do?
We are now about halfway through the book, a good time to reflect on what we have read and to make predictions as to what might happen going forward. Do you think that things will improve for the Wakatsuki family? Why or why not. (Bonus: can you find any connections to our modern world and the way we perceive people who are different from us? Do you think something like this could happen in modern America?)
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=executive+order+9066&view=detail&mid=3A8129ECF0ABF4DE888D3A8129ECF0ABF4DE888D&FORM=VIRE
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