Dolls Of Hope (The Friendship Dolls) - Hardcover

Shirley Parenteau

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763677523 ISBN 13: 9780763677527

Publisher: Candlewick, 2015

Synopsis

How daring is Chiyo prepared to be to keep the American Friendship Doll safe? Inspired by a little-known historical event, this engaging companion to Ship of Dolls is told from a Japanese girl’s point of view.

When eleven-year-old Chiyo Tamura is sent from her home in a small Japanese mountain village to a girls’ school in the city of Tsuchiura, she never imagines that she will soon be in Tokyo helping to welcome more than twelve thousand Friendship Dolls from America—including Emily Grace, a gift to her own school. Nor could she dream that she’d have an important role in the crafting of Miss Tokyo, one of fifty-eight Japanese dolls to be sent to America in return. But when an excited Chiyo is asked to be Emily Grace’s official protector, one jealous classmate will stop at nothing to see her fail. How can Chiyo reveal the truth—and restore her own good name? In another heartwarming historical novel, the author of Ship of Dolls revisits the 1926 Friendship Doll exchange, in which teacher-missionary Sidney Gulick organized American children to send thousands of dolls to Japan in hopes of avoiding a future war.

About this title

About the Author

Shirley Parenteau is the author of many books for young people, including the historical novel Ship of Dolls and the picture books Bears on Chairs, Bears in Beds, and Bears in the Bath. She lives in Elk Grove, California.

Reviews

Gr 3–6—Set in 1927 Japan, this companion book to Ship of Dolls (Candlewick, 2014) continues with the story of the Friendship Dolls project, an international exchange of dolls intended as a gesture of peace between America and Japan. When 11-year-old Chiyo disobeys her parents and sneaks along on a visit to see her sister's wealthy fiancé, she is sent by him to an exclusive boarding school in the city to learn "poise and dignity." Chiyo misses her rural home and family and struggles with issues of class and economic status at her new school. She is also bullied by Miyamoto, the esteemed daughter of a prestigious military general, who vigorously opposes the doll exchange as a sign of weakness. When Chiyo, Miyamoto, and a few other girls are selected to sing at the doll welcoming ceremony in Tokyo, Miyamoto's bullying escalates, culminating in the destruction of Emily Grace, the American doll meant for their school. When Chiyo is blamed for the incident, her expulsion from school imminent, she runs away seeking help from a master doll maker. The conflict is resolved just a little too tidily. However, readers will find no trouble connecting with Chiyo, an endearing main character who is struggling to find her way in the world while conforming to societal mores and expectations. This work is also a fascinating look at Japanese culture and customs in the 1920s. VERDICT Doll aficionados, those who like boarding school books, and fans of the first title will not be disappointed.—Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library

Edition details

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0763677523
• ISBN 13: 9780763677527
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Kelly Murphy
• Number of pages: 336