BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Kadohata, Cynthia. 2006. Weedflower. New York, NY : Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780689865749

PLOT SUMMARY:

After losing their parents in an automobile accident years ago, twelve-year-old Sumiko and her younger brother went to live with their aunt and uncle on their flower farm in California. The whole family is Japanese American except for the grandfather who came to America to raise his family. The family works on the farm, and takes great pride in the flowers they grow and sell in the marketplace. The school that Sumiko attends has very few Japanese students and she is often left out of things or teased for being different. Sumiko finds happiness in her dream to one day have her own flower shop.

The year is 1941 and their lives change dramatically after Japan bombs Pearl Harbor. Americans become wary of all Japanese people living in the United States, afraid that they may be spies. Sumiko and her family, along with all of their neighbors are ordered to clear out their houses and pack only what they can carry. They are removed from their homes and sent by train to internment camps to various parts of the United States. They had no idea what to pack for clothing, as they were not told where they were being taken.

Sumiko and her family ended up on an Indian Reservation in Arizona. All families were given a small room in army type barracks to live in. Sumiko missed the daily routine of her life of school and work on the flower farm. She grew bored and felt the chances for the future she had hoped for, slipping away.

Sumiko began to wander off the reservation and met a Mojave boy that was her age. They both knew that they weren’t supposed to be talking to each other, but found they had much in common and a friendship blossomed. Sumiko also befriends a neighbor in the barracks and together they create a beautiful garden out of the desert dirt. This is the story of a young girl forced to live in an internment camp and how she manages to keep her spirit alive.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

This story is delivered through the eyes of a twelve-year-old Sumiko; her voice and thoughts are believable and captivating. The author, Cynthia Kadohata did considerable research when writing this book, and has done a superb job of weaving history into the fascinating story of a young girl caught in a tumultuous time. The reader will be swept into the drama that Sumiko’s family faced by being evacuated from their home and shipped to an internment camp with very few possessions. The feelings and emotions of young Sumiko will resonate with contemporary young adults today.

The story is well paced and may leave you wondering about other personal histories from this time period. The author cites many of the resources that she used in her forward to this book.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:

(Starred Review) School Library Journal: “The concise yet lyrical prose conveys her story in a compelling narrative that will resonate with a wide audience.”

(Starred Review) KLIATT: “…it is a haunting story of dramatic loss and subtle triumphs.”

Kirkus Reviews: ” Like weedflowers, hope survives in this quietly powerful story.”

CONNECTIONS:

• For other historical fiction accounts of living in internment camps try:

Houston, James D. Farewell to Manzanar. ISBN: 9780618216208

Mochizuki, Ken. Baseball Saved Us. ISBN: 9781880000199

Patneaude, David. Thin Wood Walls. ISBN: 9780618342907

• To view a collection of photographs from life inside internment camps:

http://www.csuohio.edu/art_photos/famalbum/famalbum.html