Reviews

Desert Diary: Japanese American Kids Behind Barbed Wire by Michael O. Tunnell

happytoes10's review

5.0

Beautiful story told thru the letters and journal of a third grade class in a camp. Thier simple honesty and focus on topics important to kids make it very personable. A good look at an often ignored dark part of American history that many refuse to acknowledge.

xosarahirene's review

5.0

A beautiful book incorporating engaging visuals, primary source documents, and accounts of the lives of Japanese Americans interned at the Topaz incarceration camp during WWII. Prominent historical figures are mentioned throughout, such as Yoshiko Uchida, a prevalent writer of her first-hand accounts of internment. As a middle school ELA teacher, I seek resources that will help my visual learners and expand perspective of the issues we discuss. The incorporation of the childrens' perspectives, images, and anecdotes will make content more reachable for students to connect to and develop their sense of empathy. Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC opportunity to examine and review this meaningful informational text.

graypeape's review

5.0

This book takes entries from a classroom diary, that of Miss Yamauchi's 3rd grade class of 1942-1943 at the Topaz Camp in Utah, and creates a history book that becomes more relatable for children; it shows what Japanese children went through at the prison camps in the United States during World War II. I think it's good that children are being made aware of the terrible treatment of Japanese Americans at that time- when I was in grade school in the 1970's, I don't remember being taught this part of history in school, but it's important. Kids need to learn about the bad parts of our history in addition to the good, so that hopefully we don't repeat it in the future. This book is well researched, well illustrated, touching, and poignant, and includes a lot of end material to fill in more of the story, as well as give updates on some of the students who contributed to this book. A worthy addition to any library, public, school, classroom, or home.

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