Remembrance Day Reads
Fiction and non-fiction books about World War One and World War Two.
And no birds sang
Mowat, Farley, author
2012
Mowat's gripping account of how a young man, excited by the prospect of battle, is transformed into a war-weary veteran.
By chance alone : a remarkable true story of courage and survival at Auschwitz
Eisen, Max, author.
2024
The emperor's orphans
Ito, Sally, 1964- author
2018
"During the Second World War, approximately 4,000 Japanese-Canadians were "repatriated" to Japan. Among those Canadians sent back were members of author and poet Sally Ito's family. As a Japanese Canadian child growing up in the suburbs of Edmonton, Alberta, Ito's early life was a lone island of steamed tofu and vegetables amidst a sea of pot roast and mashed potatoes. Through the Redress Movement, Parliamentary acknowledgement of wartime injustices, and the restoration of citizenship to those exiled to Japan, Ito considers her role as an author, meditating on culture and identity. Later, she returns to Japan and re-lives the displacement of her family through interviews, letters, and shared memories. Her journey compellingly weaves her family's path through the darkest days of the Pacific War, its devastating aftermath, and the repercussions on cultural identity for all the Emperor's orphans."-- Provided by publisher.
The frontier of patriotism : Alberta and the First World War
2016
"With the centenary of the First World War, communities across Canada arranged commemorations of the war experience to honour local servicemen who, through their triumphs and sacrifices, were presented as laying the foundation for a free and independent country. Often overlooked are the triumphs and sacrifices of those who supported those soldiers, and the war effort in general, back at home. The Frontier of Patriotism provides an in-depth look at all aspects of Alberta's involvement in the war, reflecting Albertans' experiences both on the battlefield and on the home front. Contributors of the 40 essays all draw heavily on national and local archival resources. The war is seen through the letters, diaries and memoirs of the individuals who lived through it, as well as through accounts in local newspapers. Readers will come away from this collection with a deeper appreciation of the different ways that the First World War, and its aftermath, shaped the lives of Albertans. For many, these four tumultuous years represented a time of individual valour and of communities pulling together and sacrificing for a noble cause. Yet, for others, the war left disillusionment and anger. Exploring these regional and local stories, as well as the national story, helps us understand the commonalities and distinctiveness of what it means to be Canadian. The Frontier of Patriotism is the most comprehensive treatment of Alberta during these critical, transformational years."-- Provided by publisher.
Obasan
Kogawa, Joy
1983
Tells, through the eyes of a child, the moving story of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War.
The scout : Tommy Prince
Robertson, David, 1977- author
2013
A search down a wooded path for a well-hit baseball turns into an encounter between Pamela and a veteran soldier standing in front of a monument. The statue commemorates the heroism of Sgt. Tommy Prince, the most decorated Aboriginal soldier in Canada. Pamela is curious, and the veteran is happy to regale her with the story of the expert marksman and tracker, renowned for his daring and bravery in World War II and the Korean War. The Scout is one book in the Tales from Big Spirit series. Tales from Big Spirit is a unique six-book graphic novel series that delves into the stories of some of the great Indigenous heroes from Canadian history-some already well known and others who deserve to be. Designed to correspond to grades 4-6 social studies curriculums across Canada, these full colour graphic novels could be used in literature circles, novel studies, and book clubs to facilitate discussion of social studies topics. These books will help students make historical connections while promoting important literacy skills.
Winnie's great war
Mattick, Lindsay, author
2018
An imagining of the real journey undertaken by the extraordinary bear, from her early days in the Canadian forest to her travels with the Veterinary Corps across the country and overseas, all the way to the London Zoo, where she met Christopher Robin Milne and inspired the creation of Winnie-the-Pooh.