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?

Weedflower

This book was a touching account of what life was like for Japanese children right after Pearl Harbor. I always have heard about what happened with Americans around that time but not what happened to innocent Japanese Americans. My favorite part in the book was when she was trying to grow the seeds in the desert and they wouldnt grow until she went and worked hard on the soil until they were nurtured enough to grow. When they finally grew they were the color of the rainbow and it made her proud of something that she had accomplished. Its amazing that in the face of adversity she still found something that could make her happy and proud of herself

Weedflower and The Bracelet

Weedflower and The Bracelet were both good historical fictions books. They portrayed the stories of Japanese-American girls placed in American concentration camps. Sumiko was teased at school and finally made a real friend at the camp. The Bracelet's main character is Emi, and she had a best friend, whom gave her a bracelet as a going away gift. I felt a strong connection with both characters.
Like Sumiko, I was teased in school for being different. Sumiko was teased for her race, and I was teased because my family was poor. I grew up with many good friends in my neighborhood, but I did not know what a good friend really was until I met Ginni. If the Japanese would not have bombed Pearl Harbor, Sumiko would not have met an Indian boy named Frank, and if Katrina would not have hit, I would not have met Ginni. We both had to say goodbye to our friends in the end.
Emi reminded me of my friend, Sahara. She lived in my neighborhood, and we were really good friends. One day September 11th happened and idiots started to harass Sahara and her family. Sahara's family constantly had to pick trash off their lawn. Even though Sahara did not move to a concentration camp, her parents would not let her out play. They were afraid someone would try to hurt her. She was a prisoner in her own home. Eventually, her family could not take the abuse anymore and sold their house.
I never really understood what the Japanese-Americans' went through until now. I grew up knowing that the United States had concentration camps for the Japanese-Americans, but I did not care. They were not slaughtered like the Jews. I went through Katrina, so I know what type of mental toll it takes to be forced to leave everything behind. At least people were nice to the evacuees; Japanese-Americans faced a ton of racism.

Weedflower

The Party

Her blue dress rustled as she stepped onto the street.

She breathed deeply of the scent from her beautiful bunch of peach stock.

The maid looked surprised to see Sumiko but took her present and flowers.

Something kind of rolled across the room,

Silence.

Marsha’s mother was staring right at Sumiko.

She put out her hand. “I’m Marsha’s mother,” she said.

Sumiko smiled with relief.

She gushed, “Your house is beautiful!”

Marsha’s mother put her arm around Sumiko and moved her onto the front porch.

She’d scarcely had a chance to see the house.

Her eyes were kind.

She smiled so warmly,

Sumiko couldn’t help smiling even harder than she already was.

“Marsha didn’t tell me you were in her class.”

“It’s not me, dear, but my husband…”

“I just want you to understand that if it were up to me…”

And Sumiko realized that she was being uninvited.

She understood,

Sumiko stood on the porch with the cake.

The ballerina,

The music,

The door.

She was Humiliated Sumiko.

This is what it felt like to be lonely.

Weedflower

Weedflower really opened my eyes to what happened in the United States during WWII. I do not remember learning about this during my history classes. I think we might have talked about it once but it was "The U.S. put Japanese Americans in camps." And that was all that was said. I thought this book was an amazing story of relationships. There were so many different relationships between all of the characters. I loved that Sumiko was able to find a friend in the most unlikely place. I found this book to be sad because I couldn't do anything to help Sumiko. I enjoyed this book and I was glad we read The Bracelet before reading Weedflower.

Weedflower

Weed flower shows what the people of Japan went through during World War II. I was very unaware of what the Japanese Americans went through or how they were treated until I read this book. Weed flower is a wonderful work of historical fiction. If I was teaching a class of fourth graders or older then this would definitely be a great book to teach.

WeedFlower

I think the book Weedflower accurately shows what Japanese Americans went through around the time of world war II. I was very unaware of Japanese American culture and how they were treated in the past. I think this book would be a wonderful story to share with a 4th or 5th grade classroom. It is a great work of historical fiction. The usage of flowers and gardens makes the story creative and fun. Sumiko uses these things for survival and hope. She then meets a boy name Mohave and they become great friends. I think that Sumiko is a great character for the children to connect with and learn about. This would be a wonderful book for a history lesson as well as teaching diversity. It would be wonderful for the children to learn about racism and different cultures.

Weedflower Response

The book Weedflower portrays Japanese Americans around the time of World War II in an accurate way. Many children, as well as adults, are unaware of how Japanese Americans were treated during this time. The book is a great work of historical fiction to be used in the classroom. Sumiko makes the most of her situations in life and finds outlets through flowers and a garden. The book focuses on her garden a lot when she is at the Japanese internment camp. Just like Sumiko’s flowers, she finds a hope in survival. She meets a Mohave boy and they develop a unique friendship. Weedflower is a great story to use as a read aloud in an upper elementary grades classroom. Fifth graders for example would love this book and feel a strong connection with Sumiko.

My favorite quote from Weedflower said by Sumiko’s cousin, Bull:

"In the world of change, you accept the changes that can't be helped. You suffer so you can learn, and you learn so you can be a better person in your next life."

Sumiko

I am Japanese and American
I wonder why the hakujin don't like me
i hear the beatings
I see the pain
I want to be treated equal
I am Nikkei

I pretend i own a flower shop
I feel slighted in life
I touch the dry dirt
I worry I won't see Jiichan or Uncle again
I cry when I think about my cousins going to war
I am Nikkei

I understand why hakujin hate Japanese from Japan
I say "don't worry" to Tak-Tak
I dream of owning a flower shop
I try to make the best of life in Poston
I hope one day the hakujin will accept me
I am Nikkei

Weedflower Response Taryn Gill

The main focus for this book for me would have to revolve around the garden and flowers she takes care of. I think that this is a great outlet for any person to have at least one thing that they can do to relieve themselves from the day or from their life in general. At such a young age she has already figured out what she wants from the flowers and out of life. People that are already grown up still do not have that figured out. I respect that she can use that in her life. In such a difficult time in her life she uses the garden and flowers to help her get through her struggle. I feel like without the flowers she would have a completely different outlook on her life and own struggles.

Differently the same.

The book Weedflower was quite an interesting book, what makes it even more interesting is that even though the characters are fake, the events are real. How we were able to treat people, people that have hearts thoughts and emotions just like ours the way we treated the Japanese Americans. I assume that when all these events were going on nobody realized how similar to the German Nazis we were. We had no real justification to be locking these people up and taking away their freedom, makes you think how did this part of our history get so masked?

雑草の花

Is there a difference between a flower that grows inside and one that grows outside? Perhaps, but only in aesthetics. This difference in mere appearance has us separating one from another--segregating the 'beauty' from the 'not-quite-so'. But a flower grown in the greenhouse has never felt the wind blow across its petals, the pure sun shine upon its face, or the sense of purpose in being a part of an ecosystem. No, the beautiful flowers grown inside share none of these experiences. So, what makes them beautiful?

This book raised many questions about human behavior and how we treat things as well as one another. Terrible atrocities have occurred on American soil, committed by American citizens, and I believe the author does an outstanding job of bringing one such event to light. I thought that the author's decision to include a brief history of the Japanese and Native American soldiers' who fought for our (and their) country was very appropriate and important. May we always remember what this looks like so that we never let it happen again.

'Weedflower' has a lot of classroom potential due to the myriad of subjects that it presents. 'The Bracelet' is a good match, as would be 'The Bicycle Man' by Allen Say.

雑草の花 is "weedflower" in Japanese. Not really important, but I speak the language so I thought I'd throw it in there :)

Response to Weedflower

Weedflower made me think of how people have to overcome stereotypes. I can't even begin to imagine what people like Sumiko had to go through during World War II. I hadn't ever really thought about all of the troubles that Japanese Americans went through during this time. I could see myself in Sumiko's shoes as just trying to live out a normal life as a child. This book is great to use when teaching kids about the war. I myself had forgotten until I read the book that Japanese Americans were put in concentration camps. This is a book that children can really get interested in. I think The Bracelet would be great to use right before reading this book. I'm just glad that we read this book in class because it just reminded me how careful we need to be to not make quick judgements about other people. Also, it is a great way to teach kids about friendship. She became great friends with a young Mohave boy even though many people might not have thought such a friendship to be possible. I really enjoyed getting a better understanding of what being a Japanese-American was like during the war.