In free verse, author Karen Hesse tells of Vera and other Aleuts who are moved to Ketchikan in 1942 when the Japanese invade the Aleutian Islands. Many Aleuts die of illness, but Vera knows she will see her beloved island again. The people known as Aleuts were removed from their island homes following the June 1942 attack by the Japanese during World War Two. The story tells the tragic experiences of Vera and her family and friends as they struggle to retain their culture and family ties during this disruptive period of relocation. The Islanders were removed to Alaska over a thousand miles away and only returned home after three years to find their homes in ruins. Author Karen Hesse uses free verse poetry, and various figurative language such as similes, metaphors and personification to make her points about the impact of the war and relocation for the Aleut. Reading Group Guide: http://books.simonandschuster.ca/Aleutian-Sparrow/Karen-Hesse/9781416903277/reading_group_guide#rgg
