Genocide

by Jane Springer

What is genocide? Why does it happen, and what can be done to prevent it from happening again? These urgent questions are clearly and concisely explored for young adult readers.

Some view the systematic killing, rape and destruction of homes in Darfur as a grave humanitarian crisis. For others, it’s a clear example of the ultimate crime against humanity ― genocide. Who is right? What is genocide? What is the impact on humanity of wiping out entire groups of people? Who are the endangered human beings in today’s world?

This thoughtful book helps young readers understand these and other difficult questions. Providing an overview of the history of genocide worldwide, the book explores the paradox that while a person who murders another person can be tried and even executed for the crime, a person who murders hundreds or thousands of people usually goes free. Using case studies the book points out their unique character while at the same time establishing important links between them. Most important, the book answers the question, what can be done to prevent genocide from happening in the future?

"[The Groundwork Guides] are excellent books, mandatory for school libraries and the increasing body of young people prepared to take ownership of the situations and problems previous generations have left them." ― Globe and Mail

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.1

Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.2

Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.3

Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.6

Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics

144 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2006

Reviews

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book and it did give a good overview about recent genocides on an international scale, some of which I hadn't know about before. It's quite a short little book so if you wanted you can finish it in a sitting or so. The only thing that I thought was missing was some suggested readings on where I could go to next if I wanted an in depth review about genocide, though I suppose I could try to read the references she used.

[Zachary Ransom · Rating 4 out of 5]

America is arguably the most guilty of them all!

This is a very short but good and informative read into the history of genocide throughout world history. Far from a comprehensive manual on the topic, it is more of an amazing summary and seemingly great reference guide for interested readers.

My number 1 take away, relevant to the first line, is that the Translantic Slave Trade (TST) and resulting genocide of native Africans and their descendants makes the holocaust seem like a sunny day in the park. Interestingly, the book does not name "Americans" as perpetrators.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who considers themself a human rights advocate.

[BrittneyS]

Tough Tough read but very informative.

[max · Rating 3 out of 5]

i don't like how the 'sidebar' information was positioned, it made reading the book a little uncomfortable but it'd be unfair to give this book anything less than 3.5 stars...

[Dara Kossok-Spieß · Rating 2 out of 5]

1. Wie ein Schulbuch geschrieben
2. Veraltet
3. Zu Teilen unterkomplex

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my opinion, genocide is a very interesting topic. Genocide's rich history has helped us understand the motives of ancient and modern cultures alike. I decided to read this book, though, because of how genocide has intertwined with my own family history. Before beginning this book, I thought that genocide was only a thing that we read in history books; it had ended after the fall of the national socialist german worker's party. It became apparent that I was wrong after I began reading. To my surprise, Genocide is still going on, just not where I expected. I read that in Africa, the Sudanese government is waging war on Darfur, by hiring Arab Nomadic tribes to kill and imprison villagers in Sudan, simply because the villagers were trying to protect the very little resources they have. The book also talked about genocide throughout history, which also took me by surprise. According to the book, Genocide was committed by many civilizations, including the Romans, who used it on their campaigns to increase there empire, the national socialist german worker's party, or the Nazi's, who used it on the Jews when they attempted to take over Europe, and even in the bible, when god flooded the entire world (if you believe in that sort of thing). This took me by surprise because I had no idea that genocide had been committed for so long. Also, there are groups that are trying to end genocide in the world, like United to End Genocide, and Stop Genocide now. The reason I rated it four stars was not because of it's lack of information, but because in my opinion, the author didn't go deep enough into a solution for genocide.

[Eddie Bennett · Rating 2 out of 5]

The information presented was interesting and valid on all fronts. To diminish and fully put an end to atrocities such as these, we must be aware of them. While the book was informative, I felt that it was biased in its information and the presentation. If we are going to accept the demographics discussed in this book then we have to bring awareness to the African slave trade and colonialism as genocide also. What I didn’t appreciate about this book is that this topic was barely touched on... one of the longest occurring and documented accounts of genocide are the acts against humanity committed against Africans and African Americans during the few centuries that it took place.

The author also forgets to touch on what it means to commit cultural genocide and its effect on indigenous populations. Appropriation and the dilution of cultures, is form of cultural genocide. The book was informative but clearly biased. Forgetting one of the most important and longest occurring examples of genocide made this book less of a “good read”.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

"First they came for the Communist - so I said nothing. Then they came for the Social Democrats, but I was not a Social Democrat - so I said nothing. Then came the trade unionists, but I was not a trade unionist. And then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew - so I did little. Then when they came for me, there was no one left who could stand up for me." - Martin Niemoeller, Protestant Pastor, Nazi Victim (p. 56)

This book barely scratches the surface of genocide plaguing society, and countries like the US's proverbial blinders when they have nothing to gain from stopping it.

This would be an excellent resource for teachers to use while teaching a Holocaust unit because it connects the past to the present.

For complete review, click: http://litnerd.weebly.com/nonfiction....

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know anything about what's going on in the world. I don't read newspapers, I don't watch the news, I don't peruse CNN.com or other news sites. But I work in a program at a university where my students are interested in world events. So, I have to do something. I found this book at the library and picked it up. It's a book aimed at young adults, but I found it really interesting and useful for my purposes. It does a good job outlining what genocide is, giving the history of the word and the policies within the UN, theorizing reasons why genocide happens, and providing (unfortunately) many examples of genocide in the recent past.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to say that I "liked" a book on Genocide, but this was well written book that highlighted many genocides beyond the well-known Jewish Holocaust. It breaks down these atrocities by the racial/religious/political view that was persecuted, percentage of population that was exterminated, if rape was used as a weapon, the way the deaths occurred, etc. It would be appropriate teens and above.

[Tommy Estlund · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a little dry, which, to be fair, felt like what they were going for here. However, when trying to convince someone of the horrors of genocide, and the pervasiveness of genocide, a little passion would not be remiss. Sure, the numbers signifying that genocide is not something of days gone by are also important, but there should be a certain amount of dispassion mixed with the specific horrors of genocide.

[Madison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm glad I finally finished this book. I really did not enjoy it and it was hard to finish (which is saying a lot, due to the fact that it's but 120 pages and big print). I am really interested in learning more about genocide, so maybe it was the author or format that made this book hard to bear. I would NOT recommend it.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the definition of genocide, and of the histories behind many incidents of genocide. Enough information to be clear, without getting bogged down with too much. The author has a definite opinion about what should be done. Great for middle teens and up.

[Leanna Brenner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opens your eyes to all the accounts of genocide throughout the world. It tells of chilling accounts in Darfur.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

very informational...a bit dense.

[Zo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent intro to genocidal studies, but man is it formatted badly.

[E.C. Frey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good primer for the modern-day definition of an historical problem.

[Mrs. Hassig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent but depressing. Literally goes step by step and explains the process of genocide while using actual events to document it.

[Aynurə Paşayeva · Rating 3 out of 5]

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