This story takes place in 1942 after the outbreak of war with Japan when the United States imprisoned thousands of Japanese-American citizens. The story follows a young Japanese-American girl who is sent away with her family to a prison camp. Before her family leaves for the camp, her best friend gives her a bracelet. When the family arrives at the prison camp the stable they have to stay in is empty and dirty. The young girl reaches for the bracelet to give her courage and finds that it is missing. Her mother helps her search the grounds of the camp for the bracelet but they can not find it. The next day the young girl opens her suitcase and finds a red sweater that reminds her of past memories. She realizes that she does not need a bracelet to remember people and places that she loved and left behind. Her mother tells her, “Those are things we carry in our hearts and take with us no matter where we are sent” (Uchida & Yardley, 1993).
I liked how Uchida and Yardley used simple text and colorful but soft illustrations to expose young readers to a dark event in American history. Through the portrayal of the main character Emi, the reader is able to understand the devastation that these families felt as they were forced to leave their homes and friends behind. I teach at a very diverse school where many of the families have come from different countries. I think some of the students in my school could relate to this story because some of them have had to leave their family, friends and homes behind. This story also sends an important message to young readers about the insignificance of material possessions.
Other books Written by Yoshiko Uchida include:
Journey To Topaz: A Story Of the Japanese-American Evacuation
The Best Bad Thing
Happiest Ending
Birthday Visitor
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