Southwest Children's  Literature

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Weedflower

Booktalk:

How would you feel if your family's country of origin suddenly became your own country's worst enemy? If you were a Japanese-American youth, would you have been ready for the discrimination that was thrust on you after the bombing of Pearl Harbor?

After their parents' death in a car crash, 12-year-old Sumiko and her little brother Tak-Tak move to a flower farm in central California to be raised by Auntie, Uncle, and Jiichan (the Japanese word for grandfather). The farm and their family provide a safe haven for these children.

Shy Sumiko is the only Japanese girl in her class. She manages to put up with teasing from her classmates until her friend Marsha's birthday party. On that day, Sumiko feels the full weight of some people's hatred for anyone of Japanese ancestry.

After that experience, things go from bad to worse for Sumiko's family and friends. Japan bombs Pearl Harbor and Japanese Americans and Japanese people who do not have U. S. citizenship are removed from their homes, lose their businesses and possessions, and are rounded up and imprisoned in internment camps. Sumiko and her family are sent to Poston, a camp on the California-Arizona border. In the camp, located on an Indian reservation, Sumiko experiences the effects of prejudice and when she befriends a Mohave boy, she also helps others overcome prejudice as well.

Readers will experience Sumiko's joys and sorrow and learn that there is too often a difference between our country's laws and how people actually treat each other. Read Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata. You will long remember this poweful story.

Note: Students who are reading historical fiction, studying World War II, or civil rights will learn a great deal from reading this book. Weedflower was chosen as the Arizona One Book for Kids in 2007. Students and educators can find support for studying this book on the OneBook site, including a WebQuest.

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