Author:  Eve Bunting

Illustrator: Ronald Himler

Discussion Guide:  Pat Bowes

Setting:  Washington, D.C.

Main Characters:
   : A father and his young son
   : Disabled veteran
   : Elderly couple
   : Grandfather and a young boy
   : Teacher with students
   : 58,212 grandpas and 8 grandmas

Topics:
History of the Vietnam War
Age of those who died
Fatherless children (In Vietnam, too.)
Loss of the special relationship of grandparents and grandchildren
Sorrow
Innocence
Geography
Math
 

Note: This book can be used with any age.  Questions on the discussion guide can also be used with any age, although teachers may wish to rewrite them to suit their particular class.

1) If the man took his wife or someone other than his young son, would the story have
    been as powerful?  Why or why not?

2) Why do you think his wife, the boy’s mother, isn’t in the story?

3) What were you thinking or feeling as the young boy noticed each of the people at
    the Wall --- the disabled veteran, the elderly couple, the grandfather and his
    grandchild, the teacher and her students?

4) Do you think it would have been better for the man to take his son to the Wall later in
    life when the boy would understand better?  Or is there a reason for going now?  If
    so, what is it?

5) Visit the web site   http://www.thevirtualwall.org/   and search for the name of a
    veteran who died in Vietnam.  Consider choosing a relative, friend of the family,
    someone with your same last name, someone from your hometown, or one of the
    eight women on the Wall. Read about him or her.  Then visit the web site
    http://www.vietnamwall.org/   and get a virtual rubbing.  Show your rubbing to the
    class and tell us about the person and what you were thinking and feeling while you
    were doing this.  How do you think the man felt when he got an actual rubbing of his
    dad’s name?  (Tip:  Virtual rubbings work better on landscape format.)

6) When the man finds his dad’s name on the Wall, explain what was the man was
     feeling and what his son was feeling.

7) When they decided to build a memorial for Vietnam veterans, a contest was held to
    choose the design.  Many people did not like the design of the Wall.  Imagine that
    you have been chosen to design a new memorial.  Draw your design on a poster or
    piece of art paper.

8) Do you think the boy will ever visit the Wall again?  Why or why not?  (If so, when?)

9) Millions of people have visited the Vietnam Memorial since it was built in 1982.
     Most of the people who visit the Wall do not have names of relatives or friends on
     the Wall.  Why do you think so many people visit the Wall?

10) Our nation does not have a World War II memorial, but we are going to build one.
       It is going to cost millions of dollars.   Do you think they should spend all that
       money on a war memorial?  Why or why not? Are war memorials important?  Why
       or why not?

11) The traveling wall that is coming to Sharonville Elementary is called The Wall That
       Heals.  Do you think that is a good name for the Wall?  If so, why?  Think of
       another name that would be appropriate and say why you think the name fits.

12) Retell the story from the point of view of one of the other people in the story:
       disabled veteran, elderly couple, grandfather and his grandchild, teacher and her
       students.

13) Research and report on another wall or memorial anywhere in the world.

14) Write a letter explaining why people should visit The Wall That Heals at
       Sharonville Elementary, and / or  the Wall in Washington.

15) On a scale of 1 through 20, with 20 being superior, rate this book and provide
       support for your rating.

Geography

Locate Vietnam on a map.  Describe the shape of Vietnam

Primary Math Activities

1) In what year was the boy’s grandfather killed in Vietnam? ___________________

2) If the man’s dad was 21 when he was killed, how old would he be today? _______

3) If the man’s dad was 21 when he was killed, in what year was he born? _________

4) If the boy is three, how old was the man when the boy was born? ______________