


As students read this book, encourage them to look up the references to the US Constitution to provide a framework for the plot of the book.Īdditionally, invite students to read the news headlines and find an article that is relevant to the topics of the U.S. Constitution, specifically Article Six, Clause Two (pg 68 in the text). Invite students to take a closer look at the U.S. Shiratori’s curriculum in American Government is the pre-requisite for this primary source pairing. Author Trent Reedy has a strong grip on military procedure, and the battle scenes. It thrusts protagonist Daniel Wright into the middle of an armed conflict, a precarious position made worse by his naivete and impulsiveness. In Divided We Fall we get to take a closer look at the United States Constitution as we see the plot unfold in this thrilling story. Kids say ( 1 ): DIVIDED WE FALL asks tough questions about loyalty and patriotism but refuses to offer any easy answers.

And as tensions build on both sides, the conflict slowly escalates toward the unthinkable: a second American civil war. The President wants the soldiers arrested. By the time the smoke clears, twelve people are dead. but then Danny’s gun misfires, spooking the other soldiers and the already fractious crowd. When the Guard is called up on the governor’s orders to police a protest in Boise, it seems like a routine crowd-control mission. In fact, he enrolled in the National Guard because he wanted to serve his country the way his father did. Danny Wright never thought he’d be the man to bring down the United States of America.
