Jon

Thin Wood Walls



In Thin Wood Walls everyone of Japanese heritage must live in "relocation camps" for the remainder of the war. They are blamed for what the Japanese did. The Hanada's and other Japanese-Americans accept it with anger because they have no other choice. This picture is significant to my book because it is what the entire story revolves around. Japanese-Americans families are torn apart and sent to these because they are accused of being traitors to America for the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It is wrong for the americans to do this but they only want someone to blame in sad times. The camps are not labor camps but not exactly a five star hotel either. The name of the camp in which The Hanada's are being held is Tule Lake. Tule Lake was an actual re-location for the Japanese-Americans during World War Two. It was also one of the largest camps.



This is a picture of an old notebook, it is significant to the book because soon before Joe Hanada's father is taken away to jail he gives both of his sons a journal to keep all of what is happening to them, and everyday thoughts. Joe's older brother Mike does not write in his very often however Joe always has his beside him to write any thought or events that goes on in his world. There is much to write about when he sent to relocation camps as he often finds himself alone and on long walks with his journal. Joe write haiku's, a japanese poem often dealing with nature, his mother taught him years ago how to write and has wrote ever since.His writings are mostly of sad events such has when he was sent off to Tule Lake, his father being taken away, and Mike dying at the end. The short poems are to the pint and helps me understand the intensity of what just happened.

"Joe's first-person narrative is moving and clear in its depiction of this life, so cruel and unfair," wrote a //Kirkus Reviews// contributor. //Thin Wood Walls// is also notable for depicting the divisions among the Japanese-Americans who are subjected to this ordeal

Patneaude "does a fine job of bringing the daily experience [of Japanese-Americans during World War II] up close through the story of an American kid torn from home," Hazel Rochman concluded in //Booklist.//

David Patneaude is the award-winning author of nine mystery and suspense novels for children that have been nominated for more than 30 state awards. He tailors his presentations to meet a school's expectations, and he conducts sessions for faculty and parents as well as students. He has visited hundreds of schools from coast to coast and has presented a variety of programs with one factor in common: the kids had a great time learning!

Pirates come at night, Seeking treasure--a man's dreams. He goes, still dreaming.

This passage comes from Joe's journal after his dad is taken away hours after Japanese planes bombed Pearl Harbor.The night before, Joe's dad gave both Joe and Mike these journals for something to do, and for memory for all the things to come. Men in black suits and top-hats working for the government come at night and rudely take him away from his family, not giving him the time to change from his pajamas. These event was huge in the book because it is hard for the Hanada family to live without their father's support and love, not knowing what would happen to him and if they would ever see him again. they worry every night about him and receive letter from him often. Some of the writing was scribbled because the government found it not necessary. Joe writes a lot of poems in his journal about major events that happen while in the camps.

Hate whispers in his Ear: puries here, cat's-eyes there. He signs the Order.

This is an important part in the book because it is another poem from Joe's journal. This passage means that everyone from Japanese ancestry is to be sent off the relocation camps because of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. "He signs the Order" means that President Roosevelt signed the petition for the Japanese-American citizens to be sent to the camps. By "Hate whispers in his Ear," it means that everyone in Joe's neighborhood is blaming all Japanese-Americans and they are very hateful towards them only because of their heritage and they want to blame them. Everyone in Joe's neighborhood glares at him and writes him bad notes, Joe doesn't see why because he knows as well as everyone else that he had nothing to do with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Everyone of Japanese decent has a meeting to say good bye to everyone because they all know that they will be sent off to camps. One by one, fathers are taken away and the rest of the family is sent to relocation camps.

His arms went around me, mine around him, our cheeks came together, wet "Yes," he said, lifting me, standing, holding me off the floor. "Yes, my big son!" "Dad!" I shouted. The light went on, Mom and Grandmother hurried to us and wrapped their arms around us and we stood, holding on in the middle of our ugly little room that instantly looked beautiful to me Tears fell like warm rain. I studied my father's face-- older, thinner. shadowed. but still his face. Still him.

This passage is important because Mike leaves for the army and Joe is sadden by it but he is quickly happy again for the return of his father. Joe has missed his father since they had been placed in the camps, and his return made life in the camp less stressful just by knowing he was safe and they were all together again. Not everyone is together, Mike is off fighting for an all-Nisei combat team to show his loyalty to America and that he is not a traitor. Joe's father return home has made Joe's life a lot happier and less saddening. After this event life in the camp starts to get better except for Mike being gone.The return of Joe's dad has brought happiness not only for Joe but to some other families also, this event gives them hope that maybe their father will return home soon too. The one thing that had been bothering Joe is now gone, the only Joe had to worry about after his father came home, Joe is making it through the camp and hoping that the war will end soon.

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The reason for choosing this video was because it is about the camp that the characters in my book stayed in for the majority of the book. Tule Lake was one of ten relocation camps for the Japanese American people. It was the biggest camp and in this video it shows what the Hanada's had to go through, what they had to live in and most of all, what they could do to keep themselves occupied during their stay. In the video, it shows Japanese-Americans laughing, this is not a POW camp, they can choose to do work if they choose to either pass the time, or work for money. Before looking up this video i did not know that Tule Lake was real. Also, the book describes the housing as very small, and very cramped. The video gave a good interpretation of the camps and was very accurate and Im glad that i looked it up. The music of the video was really interesting also and I thought it fit the the video well. I feel that it set the tone of the video and it made the video mean a lot more.