Although short and simple to read, The House of Sixty Fathers is not easy reading. The subject matter is, after all, the Japanese invasion of China, and that is not a warm and lovely tale. Many situations are intense, including a child's wartime separation from family in enemy territory and seeing people die and his village burned. Yet, for a reader who is emotionally ready to handle of some of the horrors and consequences of war, without graphic blood and guts, Meindert DeJong has penned a moving story, woven with several layers of value.
The Japanese invasion is seen through the eyes of one small boy and told with a perspective that a child can understand and relate to. The American soldiers are kind and heroic. The story provides a good introduction to that culture and time in history.
The importance of family, gratitude, empathy, courage and generosity are powerfully portrayed. And the story, as all good stories should, ends with joy and hope for the future. On top of all that, the tale is full of suspense and adventure and is well-written. It has been a long time since a children's book made me cry, but The House of Sixty Fathers did just that—tears of joy at the description of the boy reuniting with his parents.
I'd recommended this beautifully written story for any child whose parents feel he is ready to deal with the intense issues described in "Noteworthy Issues."