Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

Consider what you know from classes, reading, and film to think about the historical period of World War II. When did World War II begin? What was the Battle of Britain? How did the United States enter the war? What was the Blitz? How did people protect themselves during German attacks? Why were many children separated from their parents?

Teaching Suggestion: The protagonist, Nick, lives in Britain during the German Blitz in World War II. Nick’s mother sends Nick to live in Burma to protect him from German attacks. Depending on students’ familiarity with WWII topics, it might be beneficial to begin the unit with investigation or discussion of the Blitz in Britain and the connections between the war in Europe and the war in the Pacific.

• This 3-minute video provides a brief overview of World War II. You might define Blitzkrieg (“lighting war,” a German tactic of surprise attack with overwhelming force), Luftwaffe (the German air force), and RAF (Britain’s Royal Air Force) in advance.