Continuing our Eastern Hemisphere theme, the kids and I moved our reading material into Japan. (Click here to see our
books on Africa and the Middle East) We've been on the hunt for quality historical fiction that both teaches and entertains. After weeding through a small stack, we've come away with four favorites--two easy reads and two reads for kids over ten.
One is set near Okinawa, the island where I was born. I learned a lot about what's always been a rather mysterious culture to me. For example, I didn't realize they had a feudal system in place until the mid-1800s. It was an isolated country that didn't allow its citizens to leave. If they left, they could be killed upon return.
I also didn't know that leukemia is a delayed effect of exposure to radiation and that many Japanese children died from it in the years following WWII.
These are the reasons the kids and I are reading quality fiction--to learn, to be exposed to different cultures, and to experience other lands and time periods with fresh eyes.
If you're looking for some great summer reads for your kids, why not start with these?
"Born in the Year of Courage" is based on the true story of a young Japanese man who is shipwrecked off the coast of Japan. He's rescued by "foreign devils" (Americans) but soon learns they're not devils after all. His bravery eventually leads Japan to open its doors to trade and foreign relations.
"The Master Puppeteer" was written by the author of "The Bridge to Terabithia." The writing is enchanting, albeit somewhat slow. I almost put this one down a couple of times, but I'm so glad I didn't!
Jiro, a young boy, devotes himself to learning puppetry during a time when hunger rules the land. Mobs of angry peasants, a mother who hates him, and a sick father are only a few of Jiro's worries. It's the powerful secret he discovers that's the real threat...
Hiroshima-born Sadako dreams of becoming a runner, but when dizzy spells strike, she's unable to perform. Soon, she's gravely ill and diagnosed with the disease every Hiroshima parent fears for their child--leukemia. A Japanese legend holds that if a sick person folds one thousand cranes, the gods will make her healthy again. Based on a true story. 63 pages. Easy read.
Kino lives on a farm on the side of a mountain, far above the tempestuous sea. His friend, Jiya, lives in a fishing village below. When a big waves crashes over the village, all Kino can do is watch in horror as everything he's known is wiped away. Jiya is spared and must overcome his sorrow with the help of his friend. 57 pages. Easy read.
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