Wyatt

University Laboratory High School 1212 W. Springfield Ave. Urbana IL University Laboratory High School October 1, 2008 Marc Aronson Author and Historian Anthem Books New York, New York Dear Mr. Aronson:

I have read your book and enjoyed it, but many things bother me and I am very curious about why you wrote the things and the way you did. I would first like to say I like your book a lot! I also enjoyed how you started the book with your own personal story of how you are racially prejudiced. Your book opened my eyes so I could see how I was racially prejudiced. I think you did a good job in writing the book. You made it not seem like a history book,(stating facts) instead more like a book with a plot. One thing my classmates and I noticed was how you wrote your notes. I liked it better this way because it gave me time to think about what you were stating or saying before I found out what happened. I also enjoyed how you wrote the last chapter. The way I read it was that you somewhat backed off of your personal views to somewhat state the facts. I think this was good after the previous chapter, which leads me into what I do not like.

I did not like how you verbally attacked the Germans (208-209). This had a big impact on me to see how you were racially prejudiced. I think you could have written that a little differently making it a bit better. This was pretty much the only thing I disliked. I did like where you put it. You put it late in the book so we could see the facts then your personnel opinion. This was a very good idea.

I do have a few questions though. Why didn’t you talk about the Hispanics? When did you come up with the idea to write this book? Why did you write the notes this way? How did you feel when you were writing this? After hearing these comments do you think you could have written it better? You sound (in your book) that you are prejudice against the Germans why did you end it this way. It rather puts you off as a hypocrite did you know that you could have presented yourself this way?

I think this is a very well written book and I am hoping to read it a second and even a third time to help myself with my own racial prejudices. I think you are very brave for writing a book on this sensitive topic. Thank you for your time, I am looking forward to meeting you. Sincerely, Wyatt Bensken