U.S. and the World: Grenade by Alan Gratz – Global Issues Through Literature

In collaboration with the Global Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh, NCTA at Pitt is sponsoring a novel exploring the role of the U.S. in East Asia as part of their Global Issues Through Literature Series (GILS). This April's program will feature Alan Gratz’s book Grenade, a novel about an Okinawan boy named Hideki who encounters an American G.I. named Ray during the Battle of Okinawa. This decisive battle between the Imperial Japanese Army and the Allied Forces led by the United States provides the setting for this engaging young adult novel.

This reading group for K-16 educators explores literary texts from a global perspective. Content specialists will present the work and its context, and participants brainstorm innovative pedagogical practices for incorporating the text and its themes into the curriculum.

• • Starts:
  • April 23, 2026
• • Ends:
  • April 23, 2026
• • Time Detail:
  • 6-7:30pm (ET)
• • Learning Format:
  • Online
• • Type of Course:
  • Book Study
• • Offered to:
  • Alabama, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
• • Registration and Info:

  • A complimentary copy of the book and three Act 48 credit hours are provided for Pennsylvania Teachers. For teachers in other states, we can provide you with a copy of the book and a certificate of completion. After you register, we will send you a confirmation email and will (depending on your response below) send a complimentary copy of Grenade. You will also receive information about logging on to the Zoom session.