Aluetian Sparrow

Pre-reading:
I am really in awe that I was never taught this while in school. I have always heard that the government keeps things secret, but I never truly saw this until I read the websites that were posted. I am taken-aback by this motive. I understand that the government wanted to help out, but couldn't they have done a little better? These poor Aleuts lived in hell. Separated from everything they knew, owned, and loved and immedieatly relocated is a nightmare. I cannot even begin to understand how they felt. One of my favorite websites was a link off of the Aleutian World War II National Historic Area site. I really enjoyed reading the "kids page." Issues such as this are hard for smaller kids to grasp and understand. This website could really help children. In fact, I learned so much from reading Harriet's Story. By reading this, you can understand where a child is coming from. She had no idea what was happening, but saw the way her mother and sister, Gretchen, were effected. It broke my heart to hear what Harriet's mother did to help others. She was a very strong woman, very selfless. I also think another wonderful site is Aleut TV. I would really like to see this documentary. I feel like this site had wonderful resources, such as photographs/archives of many historical documents. This is such a good resource for me to use in my classroom. I would love to be able to use clips from a video to teach my students just exactly what the Aleuts experienced. I feel like there is a lot more I can learn about this topic. I would love to see this become something taught in mainstream education. To me, it relates so closely to what the Jews experienced from Hitler. Appalling and stunning to see this in the US. -jeana

After reading:
What a sad book. But at the same time, what a wonderful one to use in the classroom. It is such a pity that this is never spoken about, but now that we know we do not have to be silent! We can teach our children, the future about this! I think this book is a great way to talk about bias and prejudices. Americans experienced the horrible events in this book. Students have heard about the Jews and Hitler, but not of the Aleuts and the US government. One way to help this come alive to many students is to put it in perspective. Just as we answered the pre-reading questions, so could students. We could also "simulate" in class one day what the Aleuts may have gone through. At the beginning of the day, give students whatever they could wish for, blankets, clothes, warmth, food, put them in families etc. Then, as the day goes along take things away. Help them create a community, and re-build. Just as Vera did. Make the kuliich bread and take into class. Try to help your students understand.

I think that as teachers we can teach empathy and compassion. By reading this, I gained a greater deal of compassion for these people. Before reading this, I was naive in a way. I had no idea this had happened. By having this knowledge, I am empowered. I know the truth behind this story. The secret is out. I can do something now. Just as our students can.

By reading Aleutian Sparrow in class, students see that Vera had a life much like their own. She played darts, laughed, and had fun (p.104) but also had to grow up and realize that a "war is raging" on every continent on earth (p.113). Vera could have many connections with children, her past life, how she tries to make her present life seem normal but at the same time - students are reminded that her life is anything BUT normal. P. 124 has one of my favorite passages on it, Vera is angry because she didn't choose this, it was chosen for her. She is not treated fairly, her friends have died. This is a harsh reality, but students need to be aware of it. They need to know what is happening in their society.

I think this book could connect very much to The Diary of Anne Frank, and even Night. Both of these books focus on racism, predjucies, and bias. I think all of them could be taught together, in a unit.

I really enjoyed this book and I can see myself using it in the classroom. I think students could connect with it and connect it with other works and points in their life.
-jeana