Grenade

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Chapters 1-10

Reading Check

1. What is ironic about “Love Day,” the codename for the invasion’s start?

2. What is Hideki’s special job to help Lieutenant Tanaka?

3. What does Big John do to the sniper?

4. What does Principal Kojima believe is his sacred duty?

5. What is Ray’s nickname?

6. What do the Okinawans hiding in the cave do after Ray and the marines throw a grenade?

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why are Hideki and his classmates standing outside at two o’clock in the morning? What do they receive and why?

2. Who is Big John? How does his opinion of dealing with the Japanese and Okinawans differ from Ray?

3. Who is Shigetomo? How does this person affect Hideki’s life?

4. Describe Ray’s landing on Okinawa. Does it meet his expectations? Why or why not?

5. Where is Hideki’s family? Why is he alone on the island?

6. How do the events at the end of this section affect Hideki and Ray?

Paired Resource

“Okinawa”

• This article provides an overview of the history of the Okinawa prefecture, including the Ryukyu Islands.
• This resource touches upon the theme The Might of the US War Machine.
• What is the legacy that the colonial powers of Japan and the US left on Okinawa?

“Oct 25, 1944 CE: First Kamikaze Strikes”

• This article from National Geographic shares the background of Japan’s strategy to use suicide by pilot, or kamikaze pilots, in the Pacific Theater.
• The discussion of kamikaze pilots links with the themes of The Honor Culture of Imperial Japan and The Brutality of War.
• What was Japan’s strategy behind using kamikaze pilots? How did citizens living under Imperial Japan view kamikazes?

Chapters 11-20

Reading Check

1. What does Hideki trip over?

2. What items does Ray start to collect?

3. Who becomes the squad’s sergeant after Sergeant Meredith is sent to Hawaii?

4. What do Japanese soldiers disguise themselves as in order to get close to the US troops?

5. What news does Ray and his fellow soldiers learn about the European theater?

6. What Okinawan landmark does Hideki use as a compass for his travels?

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What item do the US troops drop from the planes? How does Hideki respond?

2. What is the problem with the US troops using grenades in the tombs? What does Ray advocate to do?

3. Why does Otō tell his son that the island is a “sute-ishi” in Chapter 13? What troubling information does Hideki learn from his father?

4. What is Ray doing when he learns about President FDR’s death? How do he and the other soldiers react?

5. What is Otō’s dying wish? Why is Hideki unable to bury him at this time?

6. Summarize Hideki and Ray’s first encounter. Where are they, and what does Hideki witness? 

Paired Resource

“The Traditional Okinawan Turtleback Tomb”

• Okinawa Island Guide shares a brief overview of the importance of family tombs in Okinawan culture.
• The importance of ancestry in Okinawan culture links with the theme of Okinawan Spirituality.
• What role does the family tomb play in the daily lives of Okinawans?

“Looking Back at the Day FDR Died”

• National Constitution Center details the historical events surrounding the death of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) during WWII.
• Big John’s and Ray’s contrasting responses to FDR’s death link to the theme of The Brutality of War.
• How did FDR’s death impact US troops fighting in WWII?

Chapters 21-30

Reading Check

1. Why does Hideki throw away the sack with the Emperor’s pictures?

2. Who kills Ray?

3. Where does Hideki seek refuge?

4. According to the elderly Okinawan woman, why does Hideki feel haunted by Ray?

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What unusual sight do Ray and the soldiers see entering the battlefield? What do they do?

2. Describe the circumstances surrounding Hideki and Ray’s second encounter. What do the boys do when they see each other?

3. What is the significance of Ray’s name for Hideki? How do Ray’s belongings perplex Hideki?

4. Who does Hideki unexpectedly run into? Why is this encounter surprising, and what does Hideki learn about this person’s living situation?

5. Why does Private Maeda call Hideki a spy? How does Hideki get away?

Paired Resource

“Civilians on Okinawa”

• This PBS article explores the impact of WWII on Okinawans.
• This article touches upon all four themes of Gratz’s novel: The Honor Culture of Imperial Japan, Okinawan Spirituality, The Might of the US War Machine, and The Brutality of War.
• What are some of the ways Okinawans suffered from the invading Japanese and US forces?

“33 Unbelievable Photos from the Battle of Okinawa”

• The Archive shares a compilation of photos related to Operation Iceberg (Content Warning: Teacher-facing; not student-appropriate. Many of these photos depict disturbing images, and some captions allude to death).
• These photos relate to The Might of the US War Machine and The Brutality of War.
• Compare and contrast these photos with Gratz’s description of warfare. Do they depict the images you were expecting? Why or why not?

Chapters 31-40

Reading Check

1. For what did the US troops use illumination shells?

2. What protects Hideki and Masako from the US troops’ grenades?

3. According to Kimiko, what is the Japanese army’s plan for attacking the US troops?

4. What is the only way to escape from the cave?

5. What does Masako continually urge Hideki to do?

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Hideki leave the group of Okinawan refugees? What does he discover on his new path?

2. Who are the Miyagis? How does Hideki help them?

3. What does Masako tell Hideki about the conditions surroundings Okinawan nurses? What was their primary task as the war lingered on?

4. What happened to Kimiko? How does the experience shape her opinion of death?

5. How does Hideki distract the Japanese soldiers? What items do the soldiers and Hideki exchange?

Paired Resource

“Okinawa: The Costs of Victory in the Last Battle”

• The National WWII Museum explores some of the consequences of the fighting of WWII on soldiers.
• This article’s discussion on loss, death, and PTSD among veterans relates to the themes of The Might of the US War Machine and The Brutality of War.
• What were some of the challenges US soldiers faced in combat?

“Images of Okinawa After WWII”

• The University of Hawaii shares a collection of photographs depicting the landscape and infrastructure of Okinawa after WWII.
• These images relate to the themes of The Might of the US War Machine and The Brutality of War.
• How did the warfare damage the lives of Okinawans?

Chapters 41-45

Reading Check

1. What does Hideki suggest that he and his companions wear to signal their surrender to the US troops?

2. What item does Hideki leave behind in order to ensure his safety?

3. Who arrives just after Hideki and his companions surrender?

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why are Hideki and his companions hesitant about approaching the US troops?

2. Summarize Hideki’s final conversation with Kimiko. What do they determine about the fate of Okinawa? 

Recommended Next Reads

Allies by Alan Gratz

• Gratz’s 2019 novel follows six teenage protagonists in their fight against the Axis powers on D-Day.
• This novel connects with the themes The Might of the US War Machine and The Brutality of War.
• Similar topics include teenage protagonists, WWII, community, and difficult decisions.
• Allies on SuperSummary

When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park

• Park’s 2002 novel centers on a young Korean girl and her family living under Japanese occupation during WWII.
• Shared themes include The Honor Culture of Imperial Japan and The Brutality of War.
• Similar topics include dual protagonists, WWII, and children living under Japanese occupation.
• When My Name Was Keoko on SuperSummary