Description:
In this thoughtful and deftly woven WWII novel, an American and a Japanese teen with lives on opposite ends of the world discover that hate for an "enemy" leaves a heavy heart.
Brief description:
Shirley Reva Vernick is an award-winning author and journalist. Her works include The Sky We Shared, Remember Dippy, The Blood Lie, The Black Butterfly, and Ripped Away. Her interviews and feature articles have appeared in numerous magazines, national newspapers, and university publications. Shirley graduated from Cornell University and is an alumna of the Radcliffe Writing Seminars. She lives in western Massachusetts.
Review Quotes:
* "Vernick's absorbing historical WWII novel alternates between the perspectives of two teenage girls... Both girls just want the war to be over, and both think deeply about the complexities of blame, guilt, forgiveness, and compassion while navigating their own country's racist propaganda." -- The Horn Book, starred review
* "Vernick's moving prose renders both voices with empathy. Balanced narratives and steady pacing effectively highlight an often-overlooked period in both Japanese and American history." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review
"A central, meaningful message about the flimsiness of hatred emerges, and the barbarities of the war are revealed in an uncommon, important way." -- Foreword Reviews
"Highly relevant to today's world... This book could easily be used as a companion to lessons about World War II in the classroom." -- School Library Connection
Delaware Diamonds Awards Nominee 2024 - Diamond State Literacy Association