"The question of belonging is complicated" Zlata Filipovic

This week's reading was incredible! When we were given the list to choose from, I was really leaning toward a different book, but Katie convinced me that it would be a good idea.  I was excited about the idea of reading something that was like Anne Frank's diary because I have always wanted to read that. However, when I learned that it was about a girl caught in the war in Sarajevo, I was convinced that I would enjoy this book.  The very first thing that I wanted to look up before I started reading was where Sarajevo was and a little information about the war, because like many Americans I was very ignorant of the situation and what happened in the 90s.  So I went to my trusted source for all knowledge WIKIPEDIA! It really helped me appreciate the book and I became more informed on issues happening in the world. 
I guess I should tell you what the book was that I read.  Zlata's Diary is a story about a young girls time trapped in wartime Sarajevo.  It was really beautifully written; particularly when you consider the age of the writer and the things that she is going through. I was particularly fond of her emphatic responses to certain situations.  She was able to maintain this upbeat attitude despite very serious and life threatening challenges. I think one of my favorites parts is where Zlata recognizes that young people would have run the country better. She says "Of course, I'm 'young' and politics are conducted by 'grown-ups.' But I think we 'young' would do it better. We certainly wouldn't have chosen war."  This is so true and I think young adults have this feeling a lot.  They realize that adults may not have all of the right answers and that they may be able to do a better job.  I think this is an excellent realization to have and it reminds me of what Gaughan is trying to say in his two Chapters from Cultural Reflections. (I've included the link to the text in case curiosity turned to purchasing).

In the two chapters, Gaughan makes these amazing suggestions about how we can teach differently in the English classroom.  Personally, I thought his suggestions were fantastic and I would love to have the confidence as a teacher to implement his strategies.  I thought that for Zlata's Diary I could use it as a stepping off point for talking about cultural awareness and maybe implement some of his ideas about consumerism and how we identify ourselves.  Zlata often talks about not having enough food, water, or heat.  Students could consider the cultural value of these objects and other things that they consider important to their culture and their personal identity. 

I also thought that Zlata's Diary would be a great stepping off point for talking about journal writings and even as a tie in to Anne Frank's Diary. Students could talk about differences and war and issues surrounding innocent people and war.  It would be a really interesting connection and comparison because the wars are so very different and talked about in different ways. I even thought about how the writing format relates to Perks of Being a Wallflower and maybe we could draw connections between these two texts and the character's experiences. I can't believe how much I have enjoyed this book and how many ideas I have about what I could do with it in the classroom.  I think my lesson plan will probably use this text in some way.