Historical time periodHistorical time period

By Graham BraatenBy Graham Braaten

• My first evidence of historical time period My first evidence of historical time period shows technology that people had during shows technology that people had during the time period. The evidence is that the time period. The evidence is that there are helicopters mentioned in the there are helicopters mentioned in the story.story.

• The evidence of helicopters is portrayed The evidence of helicopters is portrayed on page 117 paragraph 3, “Helicopters on page 117 paragraph 3, “Helicopters swooped overhead like giant buzzing swooped overhead like giant buzzing flies.” flies.”

• I think the author chose to put this I think the author chose to put this element in the book to accurately element in the book to accurately show the technology at the time.show the technology at the time.

• After researching I found this was After researching I found this was actually true, several hundred actually true, several hundred helicopters were deployed for war helicopters were deployed for war purposes in WWII.purposes in WWII.

• The next evidence of historical time The next evidence of historical time period is the refuge camps where period is the refuge camps where Saipan natives, Japanese soldiers, Saipan natives, Japanese soldiers, and Japanese citizens were brought.and Japanese citizens were brought.

• This is mentioned on page 136, This is mentioned on page 136, paragraph 2, “We were being taken paragraph 2, “We were being taken to a “camp” where they said there to a “camp” where they said there were already many natives.”were already many natives.”

• I think the author put this in to hint at what I think the author put this in to hint at what would happen to the characters after the would happen to the characters after the storystory

• After researching I found that many refugees After researching I found that many refugees were taken to Camp Susupe (the name of the were taken to Camp Susupe (the name of the refuge camp). They were released on refuge camp). They were released on “Liberation Day,” as the Saipan refugees “Liberation Day,” as the Saipan refugees referred to it. This day took place on the 4referred to it. This day took place on the 4thth of of July a few years after The Battle of Saipan. July a few years after The Battle of Saipan.

• Toward the middle of the book I found out Toward the middle of the book I found out that the people of Saipan hid in caves during that the people of Saipan hid in caves during the battle.the battle.

• This is mentioned on page 102, paragraph 1, This is mentioned on page 102, paragraph 1, “The cave was farther than I remembered. “The cave was farther than I remembered. And colder. The floor was slick with the ooze And colder. The floor was slick with the ooze of dung and dust mixed with condensation. of dung and dust mixed with condensation. Water clung along the ceiling and dripped Water clung along the ceiling and dripped everywhere, on my head, my back, my arms.”everywhere, on my head, my back, my arms.”

• This describes the poor living conditions This describes the poor living conditions of the caves. I think the author put this of the caves. I think the author put this in to portray a true event and give the in to portray a true event and give the major characters a place to hide.major characters a place to hide.

• I uncovered in my research a real I uncovered in my research a real picture of a Saipan women coming out picture of a Saipan women coming out of a cave.of a cave.

• Evidence of this is on page 28 Evidence of this is on page 28 paragraph 2, “They wore their usual paragraph 2, “They wore their usual full legged khaki uniforms.”full legged khaki uniforms.”

• I think the author put this into the I think the author put this into the book to accurately portray what the book to accurately portray what the soldiers woresoldiers wore

• After research I found some pictures After research I found some pictures that prove the Japanese wore full that prove the Japanese wore full legged khaki uniforms.legged khaki uniforms.

• Another thing mentioned in the book Another thing mentioned in the book is that the soldiers wore hard leather is that the soldiers wore hard leather boots, “I heard the sounds of hard boots, “I heard the sounds of hard leather military boots stomping leather military boots stomping across loose coral and rock.” (page across loose coral and rock.” (page 9, paragraph 1)9, paragraph 1)

• I think the author put this into the book I think the author put this into the book to accurately portray what the soldiers to accurately portray what the soldiers wore wore

• After searching around a bit I After searching around a bit I discovered that the Japanese soldiers discovered that the Japanese soldiers did wear hard leather military boots; did wear hard leather military boots; the leather was also brown. the leather was also brown.

Another thing that proves the time Another thing that proves the time period the story is set in WWII is that period the story is set in WWII is that the planes only use propellers. the planes only use propellers. Confirmation of this is seen on page 77 Confirmation of this is seen on page 77 paragraph 2, “The buzz of airplanes paragraph 2, “The buzz of airplanes became part of our world.” The became part of our world.” The buzzing suggests the planes have buzzing suggests the planes have propellerspropellers

• The author must have put this in because The author must have put this in because she put airplanes in, and I think she put she put airplanes in, and I think she put airplanes in because in WWII sky airplanes in because in WWII sky supremacy was more important then ever supremacy was more important then ever before.before.

• After sifting through various photos I found After sifting through various photos I found numerous WWII planes had propellers, just numerous WWII planes had propellers, just like the ones mentioned in the book. like the ones mentioned in the book.

Events from historyEvents from history

• Evidence of where and when the Evidence of where and when the story takes place is also found in the story takes place is also found in the book. The most direct evidence of book. The most direct evidence of this can be found on page 139 this can be found on page 139 paragraph in the author’s note, “This paragraph in the author’s note, “This work of fiction is set on the island of work of fiction is set on the island of Saipan during World war II.”Saipan during World war II.”

• I think the author included this I think the author included this because it was a popular time period, because it was a popular time period, and she had an important little and she had an important little known event to share, that happened known event to share, that happened to be in that time period.to be in that time period.

• I found that a series of events called I found that a series of events called the Battle of Saipan really did take the Battle of Saipan really did take place in WWII. place in WWII.

• An event from history that I An event from history that I uncovered was the character uncovered was the character Todaka-san. This character is Todaka-san. This character is portrayed as the island marshal of portrayed as the island marshal of Saipan. Saipan.

• This is shown on page 40 paragraph 6, This is shown on page 40 paragraph 6, “Behind Sensei sat Todaka-san, chief “Behind Sensei sat Todaka-san, chief military marshal of the island” military marshal of the island”

• I think the author put this character in the I think the author put this character in the book to give a possible real example of book to give a possible real example of what a Japanese military official was like. what a Japanese military official was like. However, I could not find the military rank However, I could not find the military rank of “chief military marshal” in the Japanese of “chief military marshal” in the Japanese army ranks of the time . army ranks of the time .

• Apparently, this man didn’t exist in Apparently, this man didn’t exist in real life, however there was a real life, however there was a commander on the island named Lt. commander on the island named Lt. General Yoshitsugu Saito. General Yoshitsugu Saito.

• Another incident from history is the Another incident from history is the Suicide Cliff Event. The event is Suicide Cliff Event. The event is revealed on pages 117-118. revealed on pages 117-118.

• ““Ahead of us, families lined up in orderly Ahead of us, families lined up in orderly rows. Mothers holding their babies rows. Mothers holding their babies stepped off the cliff edge, staring straight stepped off the cliff edge, staring straight ahead. Children follow, one after ahead. Children follow, one after another, leaped to their deaths. Last another, leaped to their deaths. Last came fathers, running backwards, not came fathers, running backwards, not knowing which step would be their last,” knowing which step would be their last,” this is an excerpt from page 118 this is an excerpt from page 118 paragraph 6. paragraph 6.

• The cliffs are real and were the main The cliffs are real and were the main means for committing suicide for means for committing suicide for Japanese citizens, troops, and the Japanese citizens, troops, and the island natives . island natives .

• ““Ahead of us, families lined up in Ahead of us, families lined up in orderly rows. Mothers holding their orderly rows. Mothers holding their babies stepped off the cliff edge, babies stepped off the cliff edge, staring straight ahead. Children staring straight ahead. Children follow, one after another, leaped to follow, one after another, leaped to their deaths. Last came fathers, their deaths. Last came fathers, running backwards, not knowing running backwards, not knowing which step would be their last.”which step would be their last.”

• The cliffs are real and were the main The cliffs are real and were the main means for committing suicide for Japanese means for committing suicide for Japanese citizens, troops, and the island natives . citizens, troops, and the island natives .

• I think the author chose to put this in the I think the author chose to put this in the book to make sure those who took their book to make sure those who took their lives would not be forgotten and also to lives would not be forgotten and also to show how sad this event was. show how sad this event was.

• There was evidence of the author’s reasons There was evidence of the author’s reasons on page 140 (paragraph 5) and on page 140 (paragraph 5) and 141(paragraph 1). 141(paragraph 1).

• ““The blood of many lives lost has washed The blood of many lives lost has washed away. May the memory of their struggles away. May the memory of their struggles and tragic deaths not wash away. May the and tragic deaths not wash away. May the courage of those who survived always be courage of those who survived always be remembered.” This is not an official part of remembered.” This is not an official part of the book but a historical note by the author.the book but a historical note by the author.

• The third real event from history I The third real event from history I chose is WWII, which is the time chose is WWII, which is the time period the book is set in. The war period the book is set in. The war itself is only briefly referred to in the itself is only briefly referred to in the book. book.

• The best evidence is on page 28 The best evidence is on page 28 paragraph 2, “The Japanese were paragraph 2, “The Japanese were losing important battles. The losing important battles. The Americans were pushing imperial Americans were pushing imperial forces further and further back…forces further and further back…toward Japan…toward us.”toward Japan…toward us.”

• I think the story was set in WWII I think the story was set in WWII because it is a popular time period, because it is a popular time period, and the author had a story to share and the author had a story to share from it. from it.

• I found after researching that WWII I found after researching that WWII started on September 18, 1931 and started on September 18, 1931 and ended on September 2, 1945 . ended on September 2, 1945 .

• After finishing the book, I think the After finishing the book, I think the author included WWII because she author included WWII because she wanted people to feel for a little wanted people to feel for a little known event, the battle of Saipan, known event, the battle of Saipan, that was part of the WWII. that was part of the WWII.

• Some text evidence that proves the Some text evidence that proves the book is during WWII is on page 139 book is during WWII is on page 139 paragraph 1, “This is a work of fiction paragraph 1, “This is a work of fiction set on the island of Saipan during set on the island of Saipan during WWII, in spring of 1944.” This is also WWII, in spring of 1944.” This is also from the historical note by the from the historical note by the author.author.

Research SourcesResearch Sources• http://www.australiatravelling.net/mariana_islands/saipan/saipan_culture.htm• http://www.discoversaipan.com/http://www.discoversaipan.com/• http://books.google.com/books?id=R7Dc-http://books.google.com/books?id=R7Dc-

9ALzPYC&pg=PA27&lpg=PA27&dq=culture+of+saipan+natives&source=bl&ots=dola6IE9ALzPYC&pg=PA27&lpg=PA27&dq=culture+of+saipan+natives&source=bl&ots=dola6IECTA&sig=3yx5BmeHEcy-CTA&sig=3yx5BmeHEcy-2wWwWAgnbva9kQw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=gudBUeXBE5S64APwn4CwAQ&ved=0CD4Q6AEw2wWwWAgnbva9kQw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=gudBUeXBE5S64APwn4CwAQ&ved=0CD4Q6AEwAzgU#v=onepage&q=culture%20of%20saipan%20natives&f=falseAzgU#v=onepage&q=culture%20of%20saipan%20natives&f=false

• http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~leishman/Aero/history.html http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~leishman/Aero/history.html http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwarii/p/World-War-Ii-Battle-Of-Saipan.htm http://www.history.com/shows/wwii-in-hd/videos/battle-saipan#battle-saipan http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Saipan.aspx

• http://www.exploresaipan.com/Sites/Historic_Sites.aspx http://www.exploresaipan.com/Sites/Historic_Sites.aspx • http://www.warofourfathers.com/war/saipan_index.html • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2087023/World-War-II-photographs-American-soldiers-fight-survival-brutal-Battle-Saipan.html• http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~leishman/Aero/history.html http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~leishman/Aero/history.html

http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwarii/p/World-War-Ii-Battle-Of-Saipan.htm http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwarii/p/World-War-Ii-Battle-Of-Saipan.htm http://www.navysite.de/ships/lha2about.htmhttp://www.navysite.de/ships/lha2about.htm

• http://www.wanpela.com/holdouts/registry.html#saipan http://www.wanpela.com/holdouts/registry.html#saipan • http://www.quanonline.com/military/military_reference/japanese/combat_boots.phphttp://www.quanonline.com/military/military_reference/japanese/combat_boots.php• http://www.dogpile.com/info.dogpl/search/images?q=Picture%20of%20WWII%20japanesehttp://www.dogpile.com/info.dogpl/search/images?q=Picture%20of%20WWII%20japanese

%20uniforms&fcoid=408&fcop=topnav&fpid=2 %20uniforms&fcoid=408&fcop=topnav&fpid=2 http://www.stamfordhistory.org/ww2_saipan.htmhttp://www.stamfordhistory.org/ww2_saipan.htm

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