So far from the Bamboo Grove: OP#5

1. I liked the way that Yoko Kawashima ended the story, how Hideyo got there, and every thing was all peaceful, but it kind of all of a sudden just ended. Like, if they didn't have that little authors note thing at the end we would have never known what happened to the dad,and Yoko never bought her shoes, at least Hideyo finally came back.

2. I think that they practiced their customs to remained them of their home. Or maybe Ko and Yoko's mom just wanted to practice them so that Ko and Yoko would never forget them, and would practice them with there family when they are older. Like, my family speaks English at home, but my mom likes me and my brother to practice Spanish so that we never forget it.

3. I think that the character that I respected the most while I was reading this book was Ko. Ko went through the same thing that Yoko went through, but she had to do everything in a mature an respectful way, because she had to be a goo example for Yoko. Like when Ko's mom said that they had to shave their heads, I'm sure that Ko didn't like that idea, but she had to do it anyway without complaining to be a good example for her sister. Also, when their mother died Ko was very strong, and she took on a lot of responsibilities including taking care of her little sister.

4. Before I read this book all I knew about Korea was that it was two countries called North Korea and South Korea, and I had no idea that Korea was involved in WW2. So while I was reading this book I learned a lot about the hard times that a lot of people in North Korea had to go through, there lives were ruined due to the Korean Communist Army, and a lot of lives were lost. I can't believe that this book was a true story, its so sad. :(

5. While we were reading this book one of the biggest lessons that I learned is to appreciate life, because you never know when they might not be there anymore, and just little thing like your house and your family. In the beginning of the book Yoko was just a regular person like you and then all of a sudden she lost everything, and I think that she really learned to appreciate life.

So far from the Bamboo Grove: OP#4

1. I think that Yoko wants to help Mr. Naido because Yoko and him have something in coummon, the girls make fun of both of them. I think that when Yoko heard the girls making fun of Mr. Naido because of his stuttering she felt bad for him and she wanted to help him. Yoko and Mr. Naido help each other Mr Naido helps Yoko by bringing her paper and school supplies from the trash and Yoko helps Mr. Naido with his stutering. I think that Yoko likes to help Mr. Naido because he is nice to her and he is her friend.

2. Before Yoko found out about Ko she was really mad at her for making her stay at home instead ogf letting her sell more things for her shoes, but when Yoko saw Ko polishing the guys shoes I think that she relized hohw hard her sister had it and she wanted to help. It was really nice of Yoko to spend her shoe money, because she really wanted shoes, and she sacrificed that for somebody else.

3. Imagine that you went to Yokos school, and you saw Yoko come in as the new kid with rags and an inch of hair, how would you react?
I would probobly think that she looked weird, but I wound't tease her about it, especially if I knew her story.

So far from the Bamboo Grove: OP#3

1) a. I think that Yoko, Ko and their mother had to leave Korea because there were a lot of people in Korea that wanted to kill and do bad things to the Japenesse people. It just wasen't safe to be in Korea anymore. I think that it's great that Yoko, Ko, and their mother got to go back to Japan where they wouldn't have to hide who they are anymore, but it would've been even better if Hideo and their dad could come too. It was really sad that when Ko and the mother were crying on the boat, but it was great that they had finally got to Japan.

b. I was really sad when we read that Yoko, Ko, and their mother had to leave Seol because it would've been so great if they would be able to meet Hideyo in Seol and they could be united again as a family (exept for their dad). But I guess that they had to leave Seol or they woul've been killed. Whie we were reading chapter 6, and while Hideyo was in the snow, it seemed like Hideyo was going to die any second, it was so sad. When Hideyo saw the red light at the farmhouse he could barely make it, I think that the red light represented hope. At the end of the chapter where it said that he got there and then he just collapsed made me think that next time we read a chapter with Hideyo in it he would be with whoever owns the farmhouse and they would help Hideyo, or a least I hope thats what happens. Either that or the farmhouse would be owned by Korean Communest and they kill Hideyo. :'(

2) Q: Why do you think that Ko and the mother were crying on the boat?

A: There are a couple of reasons why I think that they might of been crying. Maybe they were just looking back at their journey and thinking about all the hard times that they went through, and it was hard to think about it now that they were going to Japan, a much better place. Maybe they were tears of joy that they finally got to Japan. Or, maybe it was because they felt bad about leaving Hideyo and the dad back in Korea while they were going to Japan. Lastly, maybe they were thinking 'what if Hideyo is dead' or 'what if father is dead', it would be really hard to think about that when you really don't know the answer.

So far from the Bamboo Grove: OP#2

1) I think that Hideo is very brave considering that he is 18 years old and he is taking a journey by foot acrross Korea. He really shows his courage when he separates from his friends to go to Saul, I think that this shows that he will do whatever it takes to be reunited with his mother and sisters. While he is on his journey I think that Hideo is constintly thinking about his family, like when he was working for the Korean Communest Army, and he made sure to check all of the bodies to make sure that they weren't his mothers or sisters body.

2) If I was the Kawashima family and I had 10 minutes to pack I would bring...
-matches, so that i could make a fire to keep me warm
-lots of water, so that I woulden't get thirsty
-a blanket, so that I could be warm at night
-a pillow, so that my head won't be on the cold ground
-a fashlight, so that I could see in the dark
-clothes, so that I could have clean clothes
-mints and gum, because Im obsesed with brushing my teeth and I would go crazy if my breath smelled bad all the time
-cell phone, so that I could keep in touch
-an iPod, cause its little and it dosen't take up much space and I could look at my pictures and remember the good old days
-a charger, so that nothing would ran out of baterie
-bateries, just in case my flashlight runs out
-soap, so that I could be clean
-a mess kit, because it seems like it comes in handy with the Kawashima family
-food, for when I get hungry
-money, in case I run out of stuff
...I hope that all this stuff would fit in my backpack

3) There are lots of events that I found shoking in this story so far, but if I had to pick one it would probobly be when the korean communest army came to the factory where Hideo was working. It was really suprising, and I wasen't expecting it, it was really scary how everyone around Hideo was getting killed, and Hideo was really close to getting killed. While we were reading this part I was really scared for Hideo and I thought that this was one of the parts in the book where he really showed his courage.