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starligh_314's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
summerashley's review
5.0
Absolutely beautifully written! Excellent historical fiction piece about Japanese Internment camps after WWII. Definitely a recommended text for all readers, but I’d suggest a box of tissues to keep handy throughout!
thekristi421's review
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
readingthroughtheages's review
4.0
I love that Kirby Larson is introducing historical fiction to kids that normally don't read that genre. She makes historical fiction accessible!
The story centers around Mitsi, who is Japanese American, living on the west coast during the time of Japanese Internment, right after Pearl Harbor. Mitsi and her family are forced to leave their home, but the hardest part for Mitsi is leaving her dog, Dash. Readers feel for young Mitsi who because of the time and circumstance, feels racial prejudices and grows closer to Dash as a result of her friends turning their back on her.
The second part of the story is the history - young readers learn about what happened in the United States during this time period and the history of our own internment camps. More and more children's books are being published to shed light on an area of World War II that wasn't always discussed. Readers are introduced to the living conditions and what families had to go through when leaving their homes and being forced to relocate.
Thank you to Net Galley and Scholastic for this early read. Check out Dash on Aug. 26!
The story centers around Mitsi, who is Japanese American, living on the west coast during the time of Japanese Internment, right after Pearl Harbor. Mitsi and her family are forced to leave their home, but the hardest part for Mitsi is leaving her dog, Dash. Readers feel for young Mitsi who because of the time and circumstance, feels racial prejudices and grows closer to Dash as a result of her friends turning their back on her.
The second part of the story is the history - young readers learn about what happened in the United States during this time period and the history of our own internment camps. More and more children's books are being published to shed light on an area of World War II that wasn't always discussed. Readers are introduced to the living conditions and what families had to go through when leaving their homes and being forced to relocate.
Thank you to Net Galley and Scholastic for this early read. Check out Dash on Aug. 26!
yapha's review
4.0
The bombing of Pearl Harbor changed everything for Japanese-American 6th grader Mitsi Kashino. She lost her friends, her town is changing, and now her family is being sent to an internment camp. The hardest part of all, though, is leaving her beloved dog Dash behind. Sixth graders today will find it easy to relate to Mitsi, who just wants things back to normal with her friends and to spend time with her dog. This makes the indignities of the internment camp much more real. An excellent piece of historical fiction, with a look at how war affects us all, no matter how old we are. Recommended for grades 4-8.
azajacks's review
4.0
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.org
jennybeastie's review
4.0
Really well written book that focuses on the experience of Japanese Americans in Seattle, being sent to internment camps. Heart-rending, but ultimately hopeful.
backonthealex's review
4.0
Last year, Kirby Larson introduced us to Hobie Hanson and his dog Duke. Hobie somewhat reluctantly volunteered Duke to be part of the country's Dogs for Defense program. This year, Larson introduces us to Mitsi Kashino and her dog Dash.
It's January 1942, one month after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. So far, things haven't been very different for Mitsi, 11, and her family, Japanese Americans living in Seattle, Washington. But on the first day back to school, after the Christmas holidays, all that suddenly changes. First, Mitsi's two best friends aren't at their usual meeting place, and at school they give her a cold shoulder. Other classmates also ignore her in class and at recess. On the way home from school in the rain, she is surrounded by a group of high school boys, who trip her causing her to fall and who tear up and kick everything in her school bag into puddles. Luckily, a new neighbor, Mrs. Bowker comes along and breaks it up.
Change becomes even more apparent. Cameras and radios had to be turned into the government, some of the Japanese men are being taken away by the FBI and even Mitsi's grandmother, Obaachan, must register as an alien because she was born in Japan. Getting to know Mrs. Bowker seems to be one part of Mitsi's life that is pleasant, that and the comfort of her beloved little dog Dash.
But then April comes and with it the news that the Kashino family, along with all the other Japanese American families living in Seattle are to be sent to an internment camp for the duration of the war. Each family member can being just one suitcase. Naturally, Mitsi assumes she can bring Dash with her, but when she finds out that no pets are allowed in the camp, she is devastated. What can she do with Dash to keep him safe? Knowing that Mrs. Bowker lives alone, and might want some company, Mitsi asks her if she would be willing to take care of Dash temporarily. Luckily, kind-hearted Mrs. Bowker agrees.
Losing everything, including her dog and her two best friends was a hard blow for Mitsi. Now, Mitsi and her family must adjust to their new life behind a barbed-wire fence, surrounded by soldiers with rifles watching their every move. One bright spot for Mitsi are the wonderful letters she receives from Dash, telling her about life with Mrs. Bowker. But even that isn't quite enough to pull Mitsi out of the depression she falls into. But a new best friend just might do the trick.
I have always believed that every persons experience of World War II is similar but different from everyone else. And each novel I read reflects that. Dash is based on a true story and much of what Mitsi does is taken from that story, giving the novel its sense of reality.
Dash spends a lot of time what life was like between the bombing of Pearl Harbor and life in an internment camp. It would seem that it took a while after the initial shock of the bombing on December 7, 1941 for people began to be aware of such anti-Japanese feelings that they could turn on old friends and neighbors so vehemently, as it did with Mitsi and the kids she went to school with. In that respect, Larson gives the reader a good picture of what it was like.
Larson also gives a good depiction of the internment camps, which were really fit only for the horses many of them were meant to house, and life was always dirty and unpleasant. She really conveys the sense of betrayal, loneliness and the fear of the family coming apart that Mitsi experiences on top of losing everything she has known her whole life.
I like the way Larson shows the reader that even in times of great distress and hardship, good things can happen and in the end this is a story about the strength of family, the value of true friendship and learning to appreciate what is really important.
Dash will be of special interest to anyone who is a dog lover, or has an interest in WWII history on the home front.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was obtained from the publisher
This review was originally posted on The Children's War
It's January 1942, one month after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. So far, things haven't been very different for Mitsi, 11, and her family, Japanese Americans living in Seattle, Washington. But on the first day back to school, after the Christmas holidays, all that suddenly changes. First, Mitsi's two best friends aren't at their usual meeting place, and at school they give her a cold shoulder. Other classmates also ignore her in class and at recess. On the way home from school in the rain, she is surrounded by a group of high school boys, who trip her causing her to fall and who tear up and kick everything in her school bag into puddles. Luckily, a new neighbor, Mrs. Bowker comes along and breaks it up.
Change becomes even more apparent. Cameras and radios had to be turned into the government, some of the Japanese men are being taken away by the FBI and even Mitsi's grandmother, Obaachan, must register as an alien because she was born in Japan. Getting to know Mrs. Bowker seems to be one part of Mitsi's life that is pleasant, that and the comfort of her beloved little dog Dash.
But then April comes and with it the news that the Kashino family, along with all the other Japanese American families living in Seattle are to be sent to an internment camp for the duration of the war. Each family member can being just one suitcase. Naturally, Mitsi assumes she can bring Dash with her, but when she finds out that no pets are allowed in the camp, she is devastated. What can she do with Dash to keep him safe? Knowing that Mrs. Bowker lives alone, and might want some company, Mitsi asks her if she would be willing to take care of Dash temporarily. Luckily, kind-hearted Mrs. Bowker agrees.
Losing everything, including her dog and her two best friends was a hard blow for Mitsi. Now, Mitsi and her family must adjust to their new life behind a barbed-wire fence, surrounded by soldiers with rifles watching their every move. One bright spot for Mitsi are the wonderful letters she receives from Dash, telling her about life with Mrs. Bowker. But even that isn't quite enough to pull Mitsi out of the depression she falls into. But a new best friend just might do the trick.
I have always believed that every persons experience of World War II is similar but different from everyone else. And each novel I read reflects that. Dash is based on a true story and much of what Mitsi does is taken from that story, giving the novel its sense of reality.
Dash spends a lot of time what life was like between the bombing of Pearl Harbor and life in an internment camp. It would seem that it took a while after the initial shock of the bombing on December 7, 1941 for people began to be aware of such anti-Japanese feelings that they could turn on old friends and neighbors so vehemently, as it did with Mitsi and the kids she went to school with. In that respect, Larson gives the reader a good picture of what it was like.
Larson also gives a good depiction of the internment camps, which were really fit only for the horses many of them were meant to house, and life was always dirty and unpleasant. She really conveys the sense of betrayal, loneliness and the fear of the family coming apart that Mitsi experiences on top of losing everything she has known her whole life.
I like the way Larson shows the reader that even in times of great distress and hardship, good things can happen and in the end this is a story about the strength of family, the value of true friendship and learning to appreciate what is really important.
Dash will be of special interest to anyone who is a dog lover, or has an interest in WWII history on the home front.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was obtained from the publisher
This review was originally posted on The Children's War
seaofthesun14's review
3.0
Plot Summary:
After the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II, Mitsi Kashino and her family face anti-Japanese sentiment. Before being relocated to a Japanese American camp, Mitsi, an 11 year old girl, finds a temporary home for her beloved dog, Dash, because she is not allowed to take him with her. During her time in incarceration camps, Mitsi receives letters written from Dash’s perspective.
Critical Analysis:
The first chapters of this book immediately cause readers to empathize with Mitsi and her family because they are believable and relatable characters. After reflecting on their own experiences of being mistreated, readers are able to identify themselves with Mitsi and her family as they face physical ordeals and other forms of oppression. In addition, the attitudes of anti-Japanese sentiment in the book accurately reflect the attitudes that occurred in real life after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Although history is accurately depicted in this story, the plot is engaging and is not bogged down with too many historical details. As a result of this, young readers are able to understand the story and the historical events of that time period that affected the characters and the plot line. The setting also adds clarity to this understanding because the time and place are explicitly mentioned and are integral part to the story. Readers are informed right away that the story is set in Seattle, Washington in 1942, just a few months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, which not only contributes to authenticity but once again explains the actions demonstrated by others toward Japanese Americans.
As for the themes of the story, some reflect the time period but are still relevant today. For example, the theme of enduring and remaining hopeful while facing hardships reflects the unbreakable spirit Japanese Americans possessed during their stay in incarceration camps and transcends to our time for oppressed individuals. In regards to the style of the story, the author beautifully captures the essence of the time period and setting through carefully thought-out details relevant during that time and the utilization of language commonly used in that time period all while using vocabulary appropriate for young readers. Furthermore, since the story was influenced by a real story of a girl named Mitsi and her dog, the author remarkably balances fact and fiction, thus peaking readers’ interests in wanting to learn more about this time period. All in all, I recommend this historical fiction book because it accurately and authentically depicts the ordeals Japanese Americans faced after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II, Mitsi Kashino and her family face anti-Japanese sentiment. Before being relocated to a Japanese American camp, Mitsi, an 11 year old girl, finds a temporary home for her beloved dog, Dash, because she is not allowed to take him with her. During her time in incarceration camps, Mitsi receives letters written from Dash’s perspective.
Critical Analysis:
The first chapters of this book immediately cause readers to empathize with Mitsi and her family because they are believable and relatable characters. After reflecting on their own experiences of being mistreated, readers are able to identify themselves with Mitsi and her family as they face physical ordeals and other forms of oppression. In addition, the attitudes of anti-Japanese sentiment in the book accurately reflect the attitudes that occurred in real life after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Although history is accurately depicted in this story, the plot is engaging and is not bogged down with too many historical details. As a result of this, young readers are able to understand the story and the historical events of that time period that affected the characters and the plot line. The setting also adds clarity to this understanding because the time and place are explicitly mentioned and are integral part to the story. Readers are informed right away that the story is set in Seattle, Washington in 1942, just a few months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, which not only contributes to authenticity but once again explains the actions demonstrated by others toward Japanese Americans.
As for the themes of the story, some reflect the time period but are still relevant today. For example, the theme of enduring and remaining hopeful while facing hardships reflects the unbreakable spirit Japanese Americans possessed during their stay in incarceration camps and transcends to our time for oppressed individuals. In regards to the style of the story, the author beautifully captures the essence of the time period and setting through carefully thought-out details relevant during that time and the utilization of language commonly used in that time period all while using vocabulary appropriate for young readers. Furthermore, since the story was influenced by a real story of a girl named Mitsi and her dog, the author remarkably balances fact and fiction, thus peaking readers’ interests in wanting to learn more about this time period. All in all, I recommend this historical fiction book because it accurately and authentically depicts the ordeals Japanese Americans faced after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
samantha_randolph's review
4.0
"Mitsi Kashino loves her dog, Dash, more than anything. She also loves learning, her family, and her two best friends. Once Pearl Harbor happens during World War II, everything in her life changes. Now, her friends won't speak to her, and the class bully antagonizes her event more. People on the street stare and make fun of her, and before long, her family is forced to go to an incarceration camp. After having to leave her beloved dog and home beyond, Mitsi struggles to adjust to her new life, full of hope that one day she will be reunited with Dash." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=45927