I was very interested in reading this book and read it very quickly, as So Far From the Bamboo Grove had spiked my interest in the World War II conflict. Going into this book I was feeling like everyone were losers in this war, because it seemed like everyone was getting tormented and killed by some other group. After reading this book, I felt like I had made more of a connection to the first book, but I am not sure why. I think it may have been because this book the mom is not as strong. She broke down for weeks when her father died and when they tried to escape she was taken away. The kids, who were very young, then had to fend for themselves and survive in madness with no money, no food, and no passports. This seemed so hopeless compared to the other story.
Also, the ending in this one happens pretty suddenly and it is not as in depth as So Far... Once they crossed the lines they were helped, but the Japanese kids still had to keep fighting and working to survive.
I think they are both great books to bring the realities of war and the dynamics of World War II into the classroom. There are so many different emotions and feelings that come up, that I am sure kids will formulate an opinion and their own responses to the books. They may be difficult things to talk about, but they are necessary.
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