Reference
Amy Swartz- Warrior Run High School
World Cultures I – 9th Grade
AP U.S. History – 11th Grade
Electives – Global Issues, World Religions
Twenty-Four Eyes by Sakae Tsuboi is novel appropriate for middle school or high school students in relation to history, language arts, and global studies courses. This story traces the experiences of teacher Mrs. Oishi and twelve students she had in her first class on a remote island village. The children in the story represent the various personalities, talents, and socio-economic situations that one might expect in a small village community. Despite the fact that she is initially not accepted by the children’s parents, she is able to forge a bond with her students and their parents that continued on into their secondary schooling, and young adult lives. The children become young adults during the World War II, which results in the loss of many of the boys and Mrs. Oishi’s husband. The author’s presentation of their loss through the eyes of Mrs. Oishi advocate pacifism by presenting the negative aspects of war and its impact on humanity in contrast to an idealistic, heroic attitude toward war that the Japanese government tried to promote.
The novel provides a glimpse into the everyday lives, occupations, cultural practices, diet, and roles of ordinary citizens in a remote island village. These people also faced many challenges. Some young girls could not continue their education due obligations to care for younger siblings at home. Monetary problems almost resulted in some students not being able to go on a class trip. Parents labored from sun up to sun down. It also highlights the bond that can form between students and teachers which continues from the classroom into adulthood.
This novel would be an appropriate supplement to a teaching unit on Japan during the 1920’s- the World War II era. The Japanese government’s attitude toward the war and the roles that the Japanese citizens should play is contrasted with the sacrifice of the families, especially women and children. In the last chapter, “One Sunny Day,” the class experiences a bittersweet reunion, with empty seats from those who had passed and with Isokichi, a student who lost his eyesight in the war.
