Manami loses almost everything when Japan bombs Pearl Harbor and her family is sent to an internment camp in the dessert, far from their lush Bainbridge Island home. The hardest thing to lose is her little dog - the loss hits Manami so hard she stops speaking.

Told in very spare language, this is a bittersweet tale about despair and regaining strength. Manami is bolstered by drawing, gardening, a loyal friend, her tight family, and a sweet teacher. An author's note addresses the historical facts of Japanese internment. ( )

Independent reading level: grades 4-7
Awards: Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People 2017
Junior Library Guild Selections 2016

A wonderfully told story, similar to Kirby Larson's Dash -- about a Japanese family from Bainbridge Island who is sent to an internment camp during World War II. Quite a lot of bleakness, quite a lot of beauty in the support the family gives to each other in order to survive. Dog-love is at the center of the story, and Manami is a talented artist, who spends a lot of time drawing when she finds that she can't speak. ( )

In 1942, a Japanese American girl and her family are forced to live in a prison camp in the California desert. While coping with the move, loss of their dog, and forgiveness, Manami enters a silent period. Author’s Note, Resources.