I read novels/history out loud to my 12 and 13 year old. We're currently studying WW II, and I would like to read Hersey's "Hiroshima" to them. I've browsed through it and read it waaaay back when I was 14, but can't find or remember anything over-gory or inappropriate. Is there something I'm missing or forgetting, or do you all think it's okay? I recall being moved when I read it myself, but not grossed out or horrified. Thanks for any opinions. Carol
Well, whether it be gory or not it is a part of our history and they need to learn about the facts. Just cut out the gory parts. That's what I would do.
I haven't read the book, but I think it is an important topic to cover. Maybe read ahead a little to see if there is something you need to edit as you read.
Personally, I'd consider leaving the gory parts in. War is horror, whereas in the movies it's often portrayed as glorious. I think it's important for our children to understand its reality. My grandfather fought in the Battle of the Somme in WWI. The stories he would tell us as children (much younger than teens) were horrific - bits of body hanging from the few surviving tree trunks, someone dying beside him while screaming for his mother, wooden planks floating at chest level because of all the rainwater in the trenches, rats appearing from the holes and mouths of dead bodies, hundreds of soldiers dying in extreme agony from mustard gas attacks, and so on. This is what it was like. He faced this as a teenager (drafted underage to fight) and saw most of his comrades die. His stories had a lasting effect on me, and I'll never forget what war is really like - even though I've never faced it first-hand. As the phrase goes, "lest we forget."
Carol, check out my web site! We did American History last year, and I found some excellent WWII books. We also saw the movie Tora, Tora, Tora, and was fascinated to learn how accurate it was. So many "little" incidents we read about came up in the movie. I think this is the one I really liked: Ballard, Robert D. Remember Pearl Harbor: American and Japanese Survivors Tell Their Stories Published by National Geographic Also, The Chestry Oakby Kate Seredy is a MUST READ!!! It's an older book, so difficult to find. I got it through InterLibrary Loan. Do a search for it, and you'll find some good reviews of it.
I tend to agree with Steve on this one. If a chid is old enough to learn about war, they are old enough to really learn about war. Despite the fact that I can't bare to watch it, I purchased Saving Private Ryan for exactly that reason. It's one of those movies that was impossible to watch, but my children will be required to do so someday. DS7 and I talked pretty frankly about war today in preparation for his great-grandfather's burial (with full military honors). He's still too young for the images (movie/documentary), but I wasn't shy about what I said to him in order to answer his questions. I wanted him to understand why it was so important for him to honor Grandpa Shorty today.
Thanks, everyone, for their opinions. I feel the same way--at their age, they need to know that war is horror. The father, however, is still a bit protective, so I guess I wanted some back up on this one. Carol
