This book was a great use of perspective. Written in all poems, which was fantastically done, it shows the point of view of the Aleutian people who were taken from their home by their government, American government.

This book would be great when learning poems, or when learning about different perspectives and teaching children to be skeptical about what is in their History books.

Will be most useful if paired with an American governement article showing the government's view of them moving these people. Did they omit the troubled times and just focus on the fact that they "saved" their people from the casualites of war?

Enlightening account of the cruelty dispensed to the natives of Alaska by Americans during the second World War after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. This tragic tale is told through breathtaking verse that parallels the treatment of the people of the Aleutian islands in the same fashion the Native Americans, Aborigines of Australia, Africans, Maori of New Zealand, The First Nations of Canada, the Maya, the Incas, the Aztecs, etc. Worthy read.

A heartbreaking story worth more effort than Hesse provided. She wrote a fragmented outline, leaving the potential for a good novel, but in fact it feels unfinished.

This is a book that offers a different perspective of a critical historical event. It allows one to see a minority group whose experience has been marginalized. it is written in poetry form, the verses are not consistent and can either leave a lot to the imagination or provide an incomplete story. I think it depends on what you are looking at using the book for and what style you like to read. If you want to give the students an opportunity to look at perspectives or poetry, excellent choice. It allows one to see that poetry is ver powerful and so is their voice. But if I wanted to use it for WWII I would provide more background support...

Very pretty, this writing. It is easy-to-digest poetry. I am a preferrer of prose, but this little book had me hooked! In only two hours, I gained a poignant view and education of Aleutian history and culture. Thank you, Karen Hesse!

Beautifully written. A piece of history I knew nothing about. One of the things I love about verse novels is their ability to use the space in between events to tell a story, something this one does wonderfully. Some gorgeous lines:

WRANGELL NIGHT
Aleut mothers from five villages sing their children to sleep.
From twenty tents rise the good woman voices.
Dark eyes slowly shut: Hard wooden floors
Become the hulls of boats floating in a sea of lullaby.

This historical fiction book provides another perspective about WWII and the relocation of the native Aleutians. This story is told from the perspective of a fourteen year old girl, written in free verse. Aleutian Sparrow is a quick read and the poems are well identified to tell the reader what they are about. In addition, Karen Hesse provides the reader with a map at the beginning to give the reader an idea of where the Aleutian Islands are located.

This book offers itself for many lessons, such as American government, English focusing on poetry or even a lesson about seeing different perspectives. This book helps grab students’ attention and engage them into further exploration about history or poetry.

Hesse brings peotic justice when she covers a subject that many American's arent' even aware of--the tragedy of what happened to the people of the Aleutian Islands during WWII should be more well known.

the author's note and
interviews bring it to life;
one i will re-read.

Another example of the disrespectful treatment of American citizens during wwii. The Aleuts were evacuated, deprived of their culture and work; only to return to their homes 3 yrs later, diminished in number by 25%, to villages and an ecosystem that were destroyed.
Hesse's lyrical poetry paints a lovely picture of the life of a young teen Aleut, caught up in this strife as she came of age. Heartrending.

I will never forget this book. It revealed to me an aspect of WWII that most people are unaware of.

This has been in my to be read list for sometime, thank you to my sister for continuing to ask me if I had read it yet. Had to interlibrary loan this book but will buy a copy for our home since it is hard to find.
This book is by Karen Hesse, probably most well known for Out of the Dust. This book is also a book in verse and follows the native Alaskan people who were evacuated from the Aleutians Islands during the Japanese Bombing of WW2.
I always love books that teach me about something I have never heard before, and the evacuation of these island people to inland Alaska for 3 years was something I have never heard about. Their story is heartbreaking but I felt that Hesse told their story to help preserve it. Will be passing this on to my girls and it is a great WW2 tie in.