I think that Salisbury's book is appropriate for
intermediate primary or secondary school grades for a couple of reasons. The first
being that historical fiction helps to bring out the events of historical consciousness
through a personalized and identifiable point of view. The trials of Japanese Americans
during World War II can be brought out through Eddy and what he experiences. Kids of
this age who are emerging to and through adolescence will have a better idea of how to
appropriate the material in such a personalized context. I also believe that the book
is relevant for teaching about World War II because it presents another side of the
American army during this time period. There is a fundamental contradiction that
America stood against racial discrimination and the practices of prejudice in Europe
with the Nazis, yet continued some of the same habits back home when it came to the
Japanese. Exploring this contradiction will allow students to gain a better grasp and
feel for the historical time period and the realities that governed
it.
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