I met Allen Say at a teacher's conference back in 2004 and was fortunate to receive a copy of this book signed to me with a personal drawing. With that said, my review will be glowing because I find Allen Say to be an intelligent and charming man. I own all of Say's other children's books as well and many of them are also signed to me. I am reviewing this book for teachers and would recommend it for all ages. Obviously, as a picture book, it is appropriate for elementary students (with some guidance). However, as a former high school teacher, I read pictures books to my high school students as well! Home of the Brave could be used as an introduction to the topic of Japanese Americans being interned during World War 2. It starts out innocently enough and becomes quickly clear that the narrator is experiencing a dream or vision. The beauty of this story is that it gives a visceral experience to the concept of being torn away from home and not knowing where home may be. I feel this story could help older students think about and feel this concept. With a little humor, it is easy to settle high school students into "story time," and most will respond to the concept being introduced. Now that students are thinking about and feeling home, pair the book with a prior knowledge or opinion guide. Students will remember the introduction because they will feel it.

Again, though, it's Allen Say and this book, as are his other books, is pleasurable to read with life-like illustrations. Regardless of your reasons for reading it, feel it and enjoy! ( )

This story was not the easiest to follow. It went from an older man finding young children with names tags, finding out that they were imprisoned in camps. The main character is confused and lost, as well as, all of the children who do not seem to know what is happening. This story shows the history of internment camps after World War II when Japanese were not trusted. It shows the dark chapter in American history, highlighting the emotion of the trauma with children being scared and helpless. This story is deep in meaning but its plot is not the grandest. The ending is short and leads to no conclusion besides the children's name tags flying away in the wind. Does this mean they are finally free? The reader is left on a cliff hanger to decide for him or herself, which in my opinion is not a great way to leave a historical fiction story. For myself, I would like to know what happens to the man and the children, but frankly not all stories give readers that satisfaction. ( )

This is a very interesting and some what confusing book about the Japanese internment camps in America during WWII. I found this book to be confusing because it took me reading it a few times to understand what was happening. However, it is interesting the way the author chose to depict this historical event. I think the main character had suffered the pain from the internment camps and was having dreamlike flashbacks about his life there when he was a child. It teaches about the mistrust and segregation we had here in America during WWII and is a good book to share with children when teaching about this historical event. ( )

This book was confusing for me to follow which is why I didn't like it as much. It was about a man who fell off a waterfall and ended up in this cave where he climbed a ladder to a concentration camp for Asian Americans. The plot was ok because it showed the main character releasing his parents name tags into the wind to set them free. I think his parents had died in the camp which is why he was setting them free. The illustrations were typical for this author and they are very descriptive and detailed. They capture the setting and characters very well. The author also does a great job of expressing facial expressions. I did not like the development of the character just because I didn't understand who he was and what he was doing. I think the author could have made the intention of the book a little less hidden because I couldn't tell if the main character was dead, or if he was dreaming. It seemed like he was dead as well as all the other characters in the book. I think the big picture of this story is that you have to let events go that you have no control over. ( )

I think this book would be great to teach students about Japanese Internment camps and how life was like for Japanese Americans. I think this book would be great because it talks about it from a persons perspective and how they lived through it which makes it easier for students to understand because it isn't forcing students to memorize facts and dates, it is telling of a story of a persons point of view.