8th Grade

I can construct a well written essay comparing and contrasting the experiences of Louie Zamperini and Jeanne Wakatsuki during World War II using strong evidence to establish and defend my conclusions about several important themes. Thesis Statement: Zamporini and Houston’s stories showcase the many differences and similarities of Americans during WWII through their involvement in the war, their continued resilience, and their healing process afterwards.

We will not be reading these novels entirely. Instead, we will CLOSE read, discuss, and analyze selected excerpts from both novels. In order to make sense of the passages, you will need some background information in order to establish historical context. Take cloze notes as we review a few important historical details.

 For most of the war, the United States tried to remain neutral and stay out of the war.  Japan invaded the French colony of Indochina  In response, Roosevelt banned American exports of iron and steel to Japan. He restricted oil as well.  Japan decided to attack the U.S. because of this.

 Pearl Harbor: On December 7, 1941 Japanese bombers launched a surprise attack on American naval, air, and ground forces at Pearl Harbor, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.  The attack destroyed nearly half the island’s 400 military aircraft and damaged 8 battleships.  2,400 Americans were killed.  The next day, Congress declared war on Japan.  Japan’s allies, Germany and Italy, then declared war on the United States.  The U.S. was once again involved in a world war.

 After Pearl Harbor, Americans feared that Japanese Americans might act as spies to help the enemy.  In 1942 Roosevelt ordered the imprisonment of 110,000 Japanese Americans for the duration of the war.  They were sent to Internment Camps.

 The internees were only allowed to bring with them what they could carry.  They had to sell or give away the rest of their possessions.  They were stuck in camps surrounded by barbed wire and armed soldiers watched over them.  When the war ended, the internees were released to go home, but many had lost their homes during the time they were locked up.  A formal apology didn’t come until The government paid $20,000 to each surviving internee.

 Memoir (nonfiction)  Narrator- Jeanne Wakatsuki  She is a Nisei (child of a Japanese immigrant)  She and the rest of her family were imprisoned at Manzanar (an American internment camp)  The book describes the Wakatsukis' experiences during their imprisonment and events concerning the family before and after the war.

 Authored by Laura Hillenbrand (nonfiction)  American boy Louis "Louie" Zamperini is always in trouble, but with the help of his older brother, he turns his life around and channels his energy into running, later qualifying for the 1936 Olympics.  When World War II breaks out, Louie enlists in the military and becomes a bombardier.  After his plane crashes in the Pacific, he survives an incredible 47 days adrift in a raft, until he is capture by the Japanese navy.  Sent to a Prisoner of War camp, Louie becomes the favorite target of a particularly cruel prison commander.