1993
WISE Score
Amazon
A gentle but gut-wrenching look at the Japanese American internment through the eyes of a girl who loses her best friend's gift.
4.7
4.7View →Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
This isn't 'fun' in the traditional sense, but it’s a beautiful, essential read. Uchida manages to take a massive, state-sponsored injustice and distill it into a story about a second-grader losing a piece of jewelry.
It’s aged remarkably well because it doesn't pander or over-explain. It just tells the truth. If your kid is used to high-octane graphic novels, this might feel 'slow,' so it’s best read together where you can talk through the 'why' behind the story.
Perfect for kids ages 6 to 10. It's a staple for early elementary history lessons, but the emotional core works for anyone who understands what it's like to miss a friend.
It’s a deeply moving story about friendship and resilience in the face of injustice. It models emotional maturity and the idea that our connections to people are more important than physical objects.
While it's grounded in historical realism, it uses the 'bracelet' as a powerful metaphor for memory, encouraging kids to think about how they carry their experiences and relationships internally.
Extremely safe. While it deals with the Japanese American internment—a heavy and upsetting topic—it does so with a gentle touch appropriate for young children. No violence or graphic content.
This is top-tier historical fiction. It provides a necessary perspective on U.S. history through an author who actually lived through the events. It builds empathy and civic awareness effortlessly.
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