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

What was daily life like for the general populace in and near London during World War II?

Teaching Suggestion: The setting of the novel is London and the surrounding areas during World War II; learning more about the time and place can help students access the novel more fully. David’s family moves from London to the countryside within a year after the death of his mother. Though the countryside is safer from the bombing the city of London experiences, a plane crashing within close proximity to their new home signals that risks still exist for David and his family. Exploring these resources through annotating, journaling, or discussing would provide students with opportunities to build their background knowledge and understand the world David inhabits.

• This resource from the Imperial War Museums includes background and images about London during World War II and additional links for research.
• This article from Defense Media Network explores the evacuation of children to the English countryside during the war.
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