Weedflower

I like how this book gave a new perspective on WWII by writing it from the perspective of a 12 year old Japanese-American. It was a side of the war that I hadn't heard before and definitely gave me a different view on the war and how our government treated Japanese-Americans who worked so hard. It was unfair to uproot those families that worked so hard to live in a country that went against everything it was supposed to stand for. Sumiko was so mature for her age and had to do and witness things that no 12 year old should ever have to know about. She worked harder than any child should at that age and had a big impact on the way her family operated. I liked how important family was to Sumiko and her family. This is a great book for children to read and by using Sumiko as her main character, the author has made it easier for children to be able to relate to Sumiko and easier for them to imagine how she might have felt while going through all that she and her family endured.

WeedFlower

Young and kind this child is

Gentle and fast her hands give

Carnations beauty she see inside

With every flower she gives life

Times change, and people are scared

People who often believe what they hear

Her family is take to a new place

Not one you would go to at a fast pace

There she must stay till war is at end

Lucky to be with her family and friends

The honor and trust her family must show

Yet all along it was never gone

She loves America

This is her home

but those who do not see

will soon know

Yes I am Japanese

Japanese-American to be correct

This is who i am

And this i will never forget!

Weedflower

Weedflower was a very touching book. I had always knew of what happened to the Japanese Americans living here in the U.S during WWII, but I never heard a first-person account of it.

Reading Weedflower made me realize some of the horrible things our government has done. How could we just up-root families from their homes and then try and make them work for us or join our army. I think what the government did was a horrible thing.

Weedflower was very touching because not only did it include what was happening to Japanese Americans but it also told about American-Indians who had been forced off of their land as well. I think that tying two different historical events in a novel is a wonderful thing.

I think this book would help children learn more about Japanese-Americans during WWII and give them a better understanding of what was happening here and not just what was happening in Japan.

Weedflower

Weedflower was a powerful novel that shed light on one of America's biggest controversies, the internment of many Japanese Americans. I appreciated Sumiko and her point of view throughout the novel. She showed her strength and determination as the story progressed and she was forced to grow up for her family. It was interesting to see her as a protective sister, but also as a vulnerable child. Her confusion and concern for her family showed her maturity in the situation and how she was forced to play the role of an adult in many ways.
There was such sweet beauty in the depiction of the carnations, yet such ugliness of the way people treated Sumiko. It was an interesting balance. I found this with Tak Tak as well. He was such a picture of innocence with his grasshoppers, but also Sumiko's protector at the same time. The relationship between them was my favorite in the book. They were determined to stick together and protect each other.
The novel left me a little disappointed as well. I wanted more of the story. At the end of the novel, I was hoping for a happy ending and more of a conclusion. I wanted to know what happened to her grandfather and uncle, how her cousins fared after the war, and where they all ended up.

Weedflower

Weedflower is one of the books which I can honestly say I can't wait to share with my students. It has such strong emotion for a children's literature book. I think it is very important for this peace of history to be known to children. As we discussed in class there are so many people who don't even know this even occurred in our history. There are many other stories that are set around World War II but I can't think of any that can connect with so many different groups of children. Stories on Anne Frank and the novel Night are too disturbing for children. Even the older aged children who read those stories and understand them, can not really connect with them. But Sumiko is written by Cynthia Kadohata in a way that is very easy to relate with. She is just a young girl but she, because of her struggles, stands out and has to fight against many different things. There are many categories that can interest a children into reading this story. The boys who love military stories could be interested in the war aspect of this novel. The children who move around and leave their friends because their parents make them will be able to understand how Sumiko feels to leave her home. Sumiko is an orphan and lives with other members of her family. She isn't invited to peoples houses, many children face prejudice today. This list goes on and on. Needless to say I really enjoyed this story.

Assignment 7.Cameron Kluttz

I really enjoyed reading the Weedflower. I feel this book has a lot of themes or topics you can use in the classroom. First and foremost, this would be a perfect start to a lesson on Pearl Harbor. As a teacher you can teach all details about the attack on Pearl Harbor, and also how so many people's lives changed after this day. The Weedflower and the main character, Sumiko, is a great way to easily explain Pearl Harbor because the character gives students someone to relate to. Sumiko and her family endured a lot after the attack because everyone thought that she was an enemy just because she was Japanese. Another great topic to discuss with your classroom would be about friendship with others even if they are not exactly like you. All children need to understand that everyone can become best friends even if they have different background or ethnicity. A perfect example of this topic is the friendship of Sumiko and Frank, the Mohave Indian boy. They have a connection because of Sumiko living on the Indian reservation and the flowers; which ended up being a big theme throughout the book. Last but not least, I would discuss with my classroom about how to treat others. I would want each student to understand what Sumiko and her family had to endure even though they did nothing wrong. This book has a lot of great topics and themes to teach to children and I would for sure use this award-winning text in my classroom.

Weedflower

I learned so much about World War II from reading Weedflower. I knew that Japanese were placed in internment camps, but that was the extent of my knowledge on the subject. This book opened my eyes to the situation and made me feel as if I was living through it myself.
I felt Sumiko's pain and embarrassment when she was shunned at the birthday party. I also felt her pride in not wanting to let her family know what had happened. I admired her ability to be positive in a difficult situation. I could see and smell her flowers; the ones she worked so hard to grow in a place they shouldn't have been. I felt the connection between Sumiko and her little brother. I can see the friendship growing between Sumiko and Frank. I dreamed her dreams; to get out of this place and have her own flower shop. As I was reading, I became Sumiko.
Cynthia Kadohata wrote this book to draw in the reader. She not only wrote the book to inform, but to show what happened from an insider's perspective. Normally, I don't like to read historical fiction, but Sumiko and her heartwarming story stole my heart. The only thing I didn't like about the book was that it ended too soon and left me with too many questions. What happened when they moved away from the camp? Was her aunt's job successful? Were they reunited with her uncle and grandfather? Did she ever see Frank again? Did she own a flower shop?