Paul Krusell

Paul Krusell
Flyboys
James Bradley
Nonfiction Historical
Challenge
Page 33.

1. Right now, Bradley is giving a background to how the Flyboys were stranded on Chichi Jima in the first place. The Americans just stepped onto Japanese land for the first time. This is also the first time in over two hundred years that any foreigner has set a foot on Japanese land. America sends some steam-powered battle ships to the Bay of Nagasaki, terrifying the Japanese, who had never seen these smoke bellowing monstrosities with great cannons on them. They demand that the Japanese give them the island of Chichi Jima, but it is against the Japanese law to give land to outsiders. President Filmore insists that America's laws apply to Japan.

2. I think that this book is a little slow to start, but is extremely captivating. I didn't realize that America had any negotiations with Japan before the Second World War. Also, I didn't know that Japan so radically cut off communications with the west as it did. It endured a two hundred year peace with no outside contact.

3. A theme I've noticed so far is expansion. America wants to expand out, and Chichi Jima is the best location for a steamboat base. I know that Japan started the Pacific War to expand their Empire of the Rising Sun.

4. I can't choose a favorite character in this book because I've just started this book today and am only into the background, where there are absolutely no characters. I am forced to choose the Shogun because he restored order to the warring counties and created a strong, dictatorial, successful government.

5. As I stated above, it is hard to find a least favorite character because none have been introduced, but I don't like the Emperor of Japan because he is a figurehead, like the English monarchy, and didn't take initiative during the Period of Warring States.

6. I predict that next in the book I will be introduced to the Flyboys and find out about their background, as well as find out how America connecting with the Japanese started WWII.