There is a pretty strong connection between the story of Geronimo and the Apaches and between the Japanese-Americans forced into internment camps during WWII. They were both taken prisoner by their government and forced from their homes due to the fear that they were dangerous. The fear stemmed from what had been heard about their group or what was thought they would do and were capable of. Both groups were misunderstood and never given the chance to prove that they were loyal to the United States.
I also thought there was an interesting connection in trying to hold on to the memories of the past even when they were far away from those times and places. I think both stories had it right. It wasn’t what you had that would make you better off. The things that you came from and could look to for comfort during the bad times were very important and helped Willie and Emi to get through their ordeals. This is also an important lesson for children to learn that it’s not always things but people and your past memories that can not be taken away.
One sad difference is that many Japanese-Americans were free to go where they wanted to once released but most of the Apaches in Geronimo never got to go back to their real homes and resume their lives. Both books reveal the racial prejudices that are often avoided when teaching history to children for fear that it will be too much for them to handle. But it is important to children to know about these events so that they will not allow them to happen again.