What audience would you recommend In Our Midst to? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
I’m unsure if this unique aspect of U.S. history is currently taught in schools. Even still I’d recommend the book to not only adults but also high school students. This gap in my U.S. history knowledge is unfortunate. Having many German American ancestors who lived during this time period makes me wonder what challenges and possible discrimination they encountered.
2 Likes
I agree with @NanK that it would be appropriate for YA readers as well as adults. As others have mentioned, it’s an aspect of history that few know about.
Regarding similar books, I mentioned Mercury Pictures Presents elsewhere for a picture of how Italian individuals were treated. Another novel that’s even closer to the topic is The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, That book focuses on a Japanese family in Seattle, and their experiences are similar to that of the Germans as shown in In Our Midst.
I’d recommend it to anyone who could read the book—12-99 or so! I used to teach Farewell to Manzanar about the Japanese internment, but I’d never read about German internments. I live in Wisconsin where there are lots, and I’m a quarter German. I think it’s so important to recognize that we haven’t always been as generous as a country, and to be wary of our reactions to war.
1 Like
I think this book would be great for book clubs or those who like historical fiction based on America’s little known past of internment for Germans and Italians during WWII. Nancy Jensen starts with Pearl Harbor to introduce you to the Aust family. Her character development allows you to care and brings this sad history alive. It is well written and propels you to experience their decisions, fears, and separations.
3 Likes
I agree with NanK on the audience for this book and will add the book, The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, to my to read list.
1 Like
I have read a number of books about Japanese internment, but did not know about German internment. Neither did I know about taking an oath to keep silent. Middle School students often read about Anne Frank and her family and their hiding. Middle school students and older could learn a lot about the internment of ethnic Americans during the same time, then do comparisons–secrecy, camp discipline, food, family, messages, enrichment, boredom, etc.
Another historical period that needs exploration is the period during WWI. Germans in Wisconsin were suspect; I had a great-great uncle who got into a bit of trouble for not being willing to attend meetings about what was happening in Germany. Just before WWI, Wisconsin almost made German the official language.
I would recommend the book to readers who enjoy historical fiction and perhaps to those who enjoy reading about unique incidents in United States history especially those kept secret. I agree it would be appropriate for adults and high school students. I have enjoyed many historical fiction books set during World War II covering a wide range of topics.
1 Like
This is an ideal book for a book club. I already recommended it for my group. There is a lot to discuss and I can see where there could be different views…always a plus for book club. I would compare it to Susan Meisner, The Last Year of the War. There two young girls, one Japanese and one German meet and become friends at the internment camp. It was interesting to have both perspectives at the the same time
1 Like
I would recommend to my historical fiction book club because it included the role of women during this time period especially young women, Books I have read and recommend The Nurses Secret about the first nursing school ,
The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post and many more.
1 Like
Yes, kim.kovacs, those titles would be my suggestions as well. Also, I had never heard of Germans in America being arrested and sent to camps before reading this book. With released detainees and camp employees being required to sign an oath of secrecy and threatened with deportation if they ever spoke of it, it’s no wonder most Americans don’t know about this. This should be included in the high school history curriculum. People need to know about this!
1 Like
I would recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and nonfiction. It is a great book club read. Also to those who have troubles with bias and prejudice. It may open their eyes to see we are all human and deserve respect.
2 Likes
I was familiar with the internment policy during WWII regarding The Japanese, both from historical sources and from novels like the previously mentioned The Hotel on the Corner of BItter and Sweet (an excellent fictional treatment of the subject. I was not aware of German internment (although it certainly was a consistent policy) until I read Susan Meissner’s The Last Year of the War several years ago. I’d recommend this book to book clubs and to YA readers as well as adults who are interested in history – particular in the current climate whether our nation’s relationship to "people who are “other” is an issue.
1 Like
I agree that this book would make a great addition to a list for HS and middle school students. I taught English lit for many years. None of the books we had available in the library covered German POWs. There are several books written on Japanese POWs. It is not widely know about Germans.
1 Like
This is the first book I’ve read on the subject of German internment in the U.S., and I found it very enlightening. I would recommend the book to history buffs, especially those who gravitate to WWII subject matter, and I would also recommend it to anyone who has an affinity for stories of the heart.
1 Like
I would recommend this book for book clubs, lovers of historical fiction, civil rights advocates, and history students. I had never read about Germans being placed in internment camps.
1 Like
I really enjoyed this book and loaned it to an older friend of mine who is originally from Germany. I’ll be interested to see what she thinks of it. Book clubs would have many characters and situations to discuss. I agree with the other posters about Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet as being another good book about a similar situation.
1 Like
Like Linda_Hunter, I also taught Farewell to Manzanar and discussed Japanese internment. In Our Midst certainly would be a good companion piece to that work. It wouild be a beneficial reading for any Holocaust/World War II course taught in middle school, high school or college. In our current political climate, the idea of people being considered “other” because of their background makes this book especially relevant now.
1 Like
YA and adult for sure and possibly mature 12 years old and up. It is important to teach about our history, the good and bad. I’ve heard of the Japanese Internment, but I didn’t realize about the relocating of Germans.
1 Like
I think this would go over particularly well with book clubs that enjoy historical fiction. Also, it would make a good addition to American History classes for high school students… There are a number of books that cover the internment of American citizens in camps during WWII–Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Snow Falling on Cedars, When the Emperor was Divine, The Last Year of the War, Only What We Could Carry: The Japanese American Internment Experience, Farewell to Manzanar, to name a few.
1 Like