86 pages • 2-hour read
Allies
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Essay Topics
Compare and contrast Allies with another World War II novel aimed at middle graders/young adults. Ideas for another title include My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, and Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. What are some similarities and differences in the characters’ perspectives? The settings? How do these affect the way each author tells the story?
How are the Nazis and the various Ally characters portrayed in the book? What differences are there? What similarities?
Do some research on Algeria’s quest for independence during the twentieth century (you could start with the information in Gratz’s Author Note) and the role of Algerian immigrants in France during World War II. How does Samira’s story align with the historical facts? How does it differ?
The story of William the Conqueror is important to Bill. Why is it important to him personally? Use direct evidence from the text to support your discussion.
How does the story of the Norman invasion of England in 1066 (including the figure of William the Conqueror) influence the events of World War II? Are there any symbolic similarities or differences between the two conflicts?
Compare the issues of racism and/or sexism as portrayed in the book with that of the modern day. Would those biases be present in the story if it were set in the twenty-first century instead of the 1940s? (Use direct evidence from the book and cite objective sources to support your argument.)
Do some research on Martha Gellhorn, the inspiration for the character of Dorothy Powell (320-321). What differences are there between the two figures? What similarities?
In what ways does the novel discuss identity? How does the way each character identifies themselves change over the course of the novel?
What purpose does the death of Bill serve in the larger context of the plot? What message is the author sending with his death?
Discuss the role that language and language barriers play in the story. How does language influence the plot? How would the book have been different if all the characters spoke the same language or were from the same country?
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