The Bracelet was written by Yoshiko Uchida. This is a story about friendship, diversity, and extreme racism. It is about a 2nd grade Japanese American, Emi, who is sent with her family to an internment camp during World War II. Before Emi leaves, her best friend, who is Caucasian, gives her a bracelet as a parting gift that she says she will never take off. Unfortunately, the bracelet slips off and is lost. After frantically searching, with no luck, she realizes that she does not need the bracelet to remember her beloved friend.
I enjoyed the book and the theme of friendship and how material things are not needed to remember memories and to keep the ones we love with us in our hearts. The full color illustrations are beautiful and are very realistic. I also thought that the book showed readers how the Japanese American families suffered during World War II and gave a look at the absurdity and injustice of how these families were treated such as Emi’s.
I would recommend this book to others and I would love to have it in my classroom collection. It is a great book that shows history, diversity, and teaches a great lesson of the importance of friendship and family.
Here are just a few more books (of many) by Yoshiko Uchida
The Dancing Kettle and Other Japanese Folk Tales (1949)
New Friends for Susan (1951)
The Magic Listening Cap: More Folk Tales from Japan (1955)
Takao and Grandfather's Sword (1958)
The Forever Christmas Tree (1963)
Samurai of Gold Hill (1972)
The Birthday Visitor (1975)
Jar of Dreams (1981)
Best Bad Thing (1983)
Picture Bride (1987)
love it
ReplyDelete