Free weedflower study unit worksheets for teachers to print. She is the author of many childrens books such as, the thing. Sumiko and her family are flower farmers in california when the attack on pearl harbor takes place. Other than kirakira, what other books have you published. Weedflower is a 2006 american childrens historical novel by cynthia kadohata, the author of.
Even when the other kids tease her, she always has had her flower. Twelveyearold sumiko lives on a flower farm in california, and dreams of owning a flower shop someday. Weedflower is the story of the rewards and challenges of a friendship across the racial divide. In the year 20, cynthia kadohata emerged the winner during the national book awards for her novel, the thing about luck. Booklist praised that the novel had beautifully individualized characters. She and her almost sixyearold brother taktak had been orphaned years ago when their parents were killed in a car accident. The book is set in the early 1940s and discusses pearl harbor and world war ii. Postpearl harbor japaneseamerican internment is seen from the eyes of a young girl who eventually manages to bloom after she is uprooted and planted in the arizona desert. Kadohatas third book was centered on a war dogs perspective and was published in the year 2007. The book, just crazy, was written by andy griffiths. The title of this book is weedflower and it was written by cynthia kadohata. I can tell that you are reading weedflower carefully and thoughtfully. This was a good lesson to me about the importance of living a characters.
Some of the characters in the book are andy, sooty, danny, and andys parents. This book was told from a childs view point and didnt demonize the government, but simply told the story of what happened through a fictional character. In the beginning of the book sumiko was 12 years old. From the moment twelveyearold sumiko is turned away from a classmates birthday party because she is japaneseamerican, throughout her familys subsequent internment at poston, an internment camp on the mohave indian reservation, sumiko responds with disbelief, ambivalence, confusion, and with energy, perseverance and hope.
She lives with her dog and hockeyplaying son in california. Kadohatas fathers family lived in an internment camp on the colorado river indian reservation during world war ii, and the story provides a fictionalized look at. Like her previous novels, weedflower was inspired by her familys history. Weedflower is based on the experiences of cynthia kadohatas father living in a japanese internment camp after the bombing of pearl harbor. Weedflower is the story of the rewards and challenges of a friendship across the racial divide, as well as the basedonreallife story of how the meeting of japanese americans and native americans changed the future of both. Main character, sumiko tends the flower fields on her familys farm. As with all of her work, weedflower is meticulously researched. But one day she receives a birthday party invitation from a girl in her class and for once she doesnt feel lonely nor excluded. Weedflower, by cynthia kadohata the teachers bookshelf. The main character sumiko dreams of owning a flower shop. Weedflower, her second childrens book, was published in spring 2006. After reading chapters 15, go back and answer these questions on your notebook paper in your response journal. Weedflower was author cynthia kadohatas second young adult novel, after the.
Weedflower, an excerpt from chapter one cynthia kadohata. She thinks she is like a weedflower because of the war. Then sumiko goes home to her flower farm, and she tells everybody the news. In weedflower, sumikos family members are jiichan her grandfather, tak tak. The only japanese student in her class, sumiko longs for friends and acceptance.
She won the national book award in young peoples literature in 20 for the thing about luck. Weedflower is a 2006 american childrens historical novel by cynthia kadohata, the author of the awardwinning kirakira. Even when the other kids tease her, she always has had her flowers and family to go h. The book was centered on the poston internment camp where kadohatas father was imprisoned during the world war. Characater the main character, sumiko, is compelling and well rounded. Having lived in a romanian group home before being adopted by penni and steve at the age of eight, he refuses to accept or give. Her first short story was published in the year 1986 and was featured in the new yorker. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read weedflower. Cynthia kadohata discusses her life and her books, in particular kirakira, her first book for children, which won the 2005 newbery award. Weedflower ebook by cynthia kadohata official publisher page. Sumiko is the main character in the book, she is a japanese girl. Along with the setting, the memorable characters in weedflower also add to the plot. Free weedflower worksheets and literature unit for teachers.
It was published by atheneum books for young readers and has a total of 272 pages in the book. Buy a cheap copy of weedflower book by cynthia kadohata. Weedflower is more than a superbly written piece of historical fiction. Atheneum for young readers summary of main events a japanese girl named sumiko lived with her aunt, uncle, little brother tak. Weedflower book by cynthia kadohata official publisher. Cynthia kadohata is the author of the newbery medalwinning book kirakira, the national book award winner the thing about luck, the jane addams peace award and pen america award winner weedflower, cracker.
Parents need to know that weedflower, by cynthia kadohata, who won the newbery medal for kirakira and the u. She loves the fields of weedflowers and dreams of owning her own flower shop. Kadohata, winner of the newbery medal, has created an inspiring story based upon the wartime misfortunes of her own family. Unfortunately for her, pearl harbor has an especially negative impact on her life, due simply to her racial background. Booktalking weedflower by cynthia kadohata the new york. Jun 30, 2008 cynthia kadohata is the author of the newbery medalwinning book kirakira, the national book award winner the thing about luck, the jane addams peace award and pen america award winner weedflower, cracker. Weedflower was author cynthia kadohatas second young adult novel, after the newbery medal winning kirakira. You are asking great questions, taking the time to support your thoughts with evidence from the text, and i like that you are responding to one. Apr 02, 2009 weedflower discussion questions and response journal.
It is a story with many layers, none of which cynthia kadohata feels the need to hits you over the head with. Then when they are moved and taken away from their house and were temporally stayed at a horse track named san carlos racetrack until there new home was confirmed. I think ive now read most everything kadohata has written. The story is set in the united states during world war ii and told from the perspective of twelveyearold japaneseamerican sumiko. Weedflower chapters 18 summary a twelveyear old japaneseamerican girl named sumiko lives in america and attends an american school, during the period of world war ii.
What the title means the book is called weedflower because a weedflower is less important then a carnation. Her questions become our questions as we experience the war and life in the camp through her. Main idea the author cynthia kadohata was born chicago, illinois on july 2nd, 1956. Part 1 chapters 15 as you are reading the book weedflower, we want you to think about the following questions. It also touches on the treatment of the american indian. Weedflowers are treated differently then carnations. The school library journal said the concise yet lyrical prose conveys. Cynthia kadohata follows her recent newbery medal winner kirakira with another powerful portrayal of the human spirit in weedflower. Weedflower by cynthia kadohata by julie toland on prezi. Many of the characters, especially sumiko, her friend frank, and her cousin bull, feel real. The floating world, in the heart of the valley of love, and the glass mountains. In 2005, kadohata was hard at work on her next childrens book, weedflower, slated to be released in 2006.
Digital book report weedflower bibliography japaneseamerican relocation. Characters have a range of skin tones, but ethnic diversity adds no texture to the portrayals. Kadohata allows her readers to know a real person with hopes, flaws, family and friends. She studied at the university of california where she obtained a degree in journalism, she then went on to become a fiction writer. Weedflower by cynthia kadohata twelveyearold sumiko feels her life has been made up of two parts. But its the intimacy of the characters how kadohata draws us in to so closely affiliate with each of the characters that makes her work so truly engaging. The settings in the book first starts off at sumikos family farm where they grow flowers like carnations, lilies, daisies and many more different types of flowers. This will help them as they read the book because the words are used throughout the book but only defined during the first usage.
Who are the characters is the book weedflower answers. Jan 23, 2015 the book starts with an explanation of how sumikomain character feels lonely. Weedflower digital book report by prezi user on prezi. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. What does she do in the book that shows she is excited. After reading chapters 6, go back and answer these questions in your response journal. Apr 07, 2009 as you are reading the book weedflower, think about the following questions. As the novel begins, sumiko matsuda is in the sixth grade. Apr 19, 2012 who are the characters is the book weedflower.
Cynthia kadohata biography life, family, childhood. The cover photography of the first edition is by kamil vojnar. Weedflower cynthia kadohata read online free books. Weedflower also by cynthia kadohata kirakira weedflower cynthia kadohata atheneum books for young readers new york london toronto sydney authors note this novel is based loosely on the internment of japanese americans in the colorado river relocation center during world war ii. Weedflower discussion questions and response journal. Twelveyearold sumiko and her little brother taktak live with their aunt and uncle on a flower farm in california. Kadohatas second novel was titled weedflower and was published in the year, 2006. Twelveyearold sumiko feels her life has been made up of two parts. Even when the other kids tease her, she always has had her flowers and family to. About the book twelveyearold jaden has vague memories of his mother and questions why she gave him up when he was four. It is about the poston internment camp where her father was imprisoned during world war ii. National book award for the thing about luck, addresses issues of racism and discrimination during world war ii, including the u.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The characterization in weedflower is quite strong. Jan 22, 2014 booktalking weedflower by cynthia kadohata by miranda mcdermott, harry belafonte 115th street library january 22, 2014 sumiko is a 12yearold japanese girl living in california in the 1940s. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of weedflower by cynthia kadohata. There are two incidents of groups beating up individuals. Since their parents death, japaneseamerican sixth grader sumiko and her little brother, taktak, have lived with their uncle, aunt, grandfather and cousins on a flower farm in southern california. Taktak is sumikos younger brother and in the beginning of the book he was 5 years old. Sumiko is a character full of dreams and questions about life. By cynthia kadohata how could such a tragedy have occurred in a democratic society that prides itself on individual rights and freedoms. Raised on a flower farm in california, sumiko is used to being the only japanese girl in her class.
I assume that you are asking about the characters from cynthia kadohatas book weedflower. She is a hard worker and wishes that someday she will own her own flower shop. Checked by cynthia kadohata, maurizio zorat, paperback. Weedflower is the story of twelveyearold sumiko, a girl whose grandparents came to california from japan. Weedflower, cynthia kadohata s historical young adult fiction, is narrated by twelveyearold japaneseamerican sumiko, whose family struggles with their multinational identity throughout world war ii and americas bitter, paranoid relationship with japan. Character profile for sumiko from weedflower page 1. I have enjoyed reading the comments you have been posting on our class blog. After that, sumiko and her family live in constant fear of what may happen to their family as neighbors start to disappear and all of her japanese possessions begin to burn. Weedflower is about a japaneseamerican teenager named sumiko.
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