Barefoot Gen: Writing the Truth
By: Keiji Nakazawa
Summary:
Told from the perspective of a child who survived the bombing of Hiroshima, Barefoot Gen is the autobiographical story of Keiji Nakazawa. Nakazawa tells a powerful and heart wrenching tale of what he and his family had to endure during World War II. Barefoot Gen is written as a graphic novel.
What makes this story so powerful and emotionally compelling is how Nakazawa explores the social and political climate of Japan in the months and days leading up to the Hiroshima bombing. Nakazawa and his family become ostracized when their father publicly opposes the war. In addition to being called 'traitors to the emperor' by their neighbors, the family has very little food, the mother is pregnant, and the oldest son decides to join the Navy to defend the families honor.
Barefoot Gen is an exceptionally well written story that is a must read. I would recommend this graphic novel for High School students.
Teaching Tips:
1) Have students compare and contrast the Nakoaka family with other families in Japan. Specifically, what is the Nakoaka's family perspective on the war and how does it contrast to what the majority of Japanese believed at the time.
2) As students read the story, they will have many questions about WWII, Japanese culture, and events in the story. Have them keep a journal that they can write questions in as they read. Students can then use this journal to research on their own.
3) Barefoot Gen is a ten book series. If you have students who enjoy the first book, find a way to obtain the other nine books in the series.
Additional Resources:
