Customer Reviews

The Friendship Doll

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

ake four stories that span more than a decade of the Great Depression, each of which captures a pivotal moment in the life of a different girl, and link them through the awakening heart of a Japanese doll--you know what you have? One of this year's most compelling books in children's literature: THE FRIENDSHIP DOLL.

Although I am an admitted fan of Kirby Larson, I am not a big fan of dolls (unless they are the wicked, mangled, creatury kind); however, by the time I reached the end of the first story, I could not put this book down. Not only does Larson breathe life into the pretentious Miss Kanagawa, one of 58 Ambassadors of Friendship sent by Japan in 1927, she breathes life into the pages of this book with a subtle element of liminal fantasy that gives each episodic tale a mesmerizing mystical quality grounded in historical authenticity.

This is no easy feat, but when it works (as this does), the payoff is huge. One of my librarian friends read the ARC of this book a couple months ago, and she was raving that it "blew [her] mind." I had no idea what she meant by this, but I do now. The book--its four part structure and seamless blending of the magical with the mundane--has a numinous quality. And the voice--the voices--so pitch perfect in each narration they lend even more authenticity to the telling as Miss. Kanagawa is passed from place to place, suffering the hardship of years and diminished circumstances--but not diminished heart.

THE FRIENDSHIP DOLL closes with a fifth story that diverges from the other four by jumping to the present day. The leap jarred me at first, mainly because the Depression-era world created by Larson in the rest of the book is so hard to leave, but I can see that the book wouldn't have worked without it. In this sense, I tend to think of it more as a perfect epilogue than an ending.

On every level, THE FRIENDSHIP DOLL embodies the power of storytelling and friendship to heal and unite that which has become separated, isolated or broken. For me, there is just one thing lacking in this marvelous narrative: a cash reward for information leading to the whereabouts (or fate) of Miss Kanagawa and her missing sisters. Random House, are you listening?

Before I read this book, I had no idea about the friendship dolls that Japan sent to the USA before WWII in an attempt to foster friendship between the two countries. There were fifty-eight of these dolls in all and two this day, thirteen of them are still missing.

Told from the pov of four girls living during the Great Depression and one of the dolls, Miss Kanagawa, "The Friendship Doll" is quite unlike anything I have ever read before. Larson is truly a gifted writer and her use of language is amazing. The description of the old master doll-maker, Tatsuhiko, dressing Miss Kanagawa in his deceased daughter's kimono was one of the most moving things I have ever read. I actually had tears in my eyes, and I am not the sort to tear up easily.

Likewise, the girls in the story seem so real that I actually felt like I had known people like this. Lucy Turner in particular is one character I will not soon forget. Overall, wonderful novel for young ones and adults whose message will resonate with many in these difficult times.

I loved this book. It is told from the point of view of a doll at times. I did not know of this event in history but japan sent 58 3 foot high finely dressed dolls to the school children of America as ambassadors of friendship. The American children had previously sent them blue eyed blonde baby dolls. These dolls had fancy trunks with tea sets and parasols and writing papers and tiny envelopes.The story follows one doll Miss Kanagawa. She is the last doll made by a very old man and she is the most beautiful. She is dressed in the kimono that belonged to his dear daughter that had died.

You read what the doll is thinking about what is going on around her. She tells how it feels to "come alive" It reminded me of the Velveteen Rabbit and the skin horse. It follows her travels through many years but there are four specific girls that interact with her. The stories and lives of the girls ave very vivid and enjoyable although like life sad at times.

It ends in the present day and I will not ruin what happens then but it is very touching. As an adult I couldn't put it down and I am sure that most girls will love the story and get a history lesson. At the end of the book the author tells you what is the truth and what parts she wrote in as fiction to give the story depth.

Highly Recommend.

At first I found the format of The Friendship Doll a little jarring. With the doll sometimes narrating and sometimes not, I wasn't sure where my attention was supposed to be focused. But the transitions in the book got less awkward, and I adjusted well to the format. I ended up feeling fond of the major characters and interested in the topic of dolls exchanged between the US and Japan as a gesture of friendship.

This book could easily ignite an interest in the Great Depression, in Japanese-American relations, in the World's Fair, in the history of Japanese dolls, or in the friendship dolls themselves. The facts at the end of the book aren't dry at all, but fascinating. I'd like to see one of the missing 13 dolls turn up on Antiques Roadshow, and I'd like to see The Friendship Doll make a difference in the life of a kid who might otherwise be preoccupied with cell phones and celebrities.

This delightful book was based on an actual event in which 58 dolls were donated by the schoolchildren of Japan to the children of America back in 1927. The book spans from 1927 through the present day. The focus is on one particular Friendship Doll, a Miss Kanagawa, from her inception by the Master dollmaker Tatsuhiko to the present. Miss Kanagawa goes on quite a journey in her special trunk, affecting lives wherever she goes. Miss Kanagawa has special powers. She is able to "speak" to children, offering them words of wisdom, advice or comfort. Her influence is profound, as you will see with four young girls and a young boy.

The story begins in 1927, with the first heroine, Bunny, who is upset that her archrival, Belle Roosevelt, was selected to give a speech and accept the Friendship Dolls from Japan instead of herself. She plots to spoil Belle's speech but then arrives early to the event and sees Miss Kanagawa. Will Bunny go ahead with her plans?

Lois is the next heroine who is invited by her rich Great-Aunt to the Chicago's World Fair. It is now 1933, in the heart of the depression, and money and jobs are scarce. Lois' best friend is Mabel, whose family is also suffering from the depression; Lois sees how thin her friend is getting because there is not enough food. When Mabel hears of Lois' good fortune of going to the fair, she rejoices along with her best friend, even though she is unable to go. Lois' daddy is also unemployed and looking for work. Nonetheless, he gives Lois a quarter to buy something special at the World's Fair. Lois' burning desire is to ride the Sky-Ride until her Great-Aunt takes her to a doll exhibit and she meets Miss Kanagawa. What will Lois do with her precious quarter?

The next story takes place in 1937. Willie Mae lives in the holler in Kentucky, dirt poor but eager to learn. She loves to read and voraciously devours the books the librarian brings her. She loves to write her own stories and poems on any scrap of paper she can find. When the librarian offers her a job of reading to wealthy Mrs. Weldon, Willie May takes it, as the money will help put food on the table for her family. The hard part is she has to leave her family and go live with Mrs. Weldon. Mrs. Weldon is fiercely independent, a result of losing her mother too soon; others think of her as a selfish eccentric, but Willie Mae sees her differently. She reads to her, helps her to organize her rock collection and discovers Miss Kanagawa amidst all the boxes of rocks. But then tragedy strikes Mrs. Weldon and Willie Mae, and Miss Kanagawa is there to provide comfort to both.

Lucy Turner loves to write letters, and she often writes to the First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt and her best friend Gloria Jean. She and her daddy take off in 1939 from Oklahoma to California in search of a better life and job opportunities. But their trip is not easy, with the tires blowing out. Her Dad takes odd jobs along the way to pay for new inner tubes, then off they go. Unfortunately California was not hospitable, especially to "Okies", so Lucy and her father head up to Klamath County FSA Camp in Oregon, where they settle and begin a new life. At school, the teacher is going to take the children to Dr. Evans' new museum, which causes a lot of excitement. At the museum, Lucy discovers the "Land of the Sun" room, which is all about Japan. There she meets Miss Kanagawa and is fascinated by the beautiful doll as well as her dainty accessories. She finds strength and resolve every time she visits Miss Kanagawa and soon is a regular visitor to the museum, until World War II, where anything Japanese was considered disloyal, and Dr. Evans was forced to dismantle the "Land of the Sun" room. Miss Kanagawa once again was put away in her trunk. What will happen to Miss Kanagawa?

It is present day, and Mason does not want to visit his grandmother Seal. Seal is suffering from Alzheimer's, but Mason is repulsed by her now; he wants his old Seal back, the one who taught him how to kayak. Now she does not even recognize Mason or his sister Emma. Seeing how bad she is, Mason and Emma retreat into the attic to explore. They come across Miss Kanagawa inside her trunk. They bring the doll down to Seal, who suddenly becomes alive, transported back to her childhood. Mason sees a dramatic change in Seal as she holds Miss Kanagawa and talks lucidly about her past for the first time in months. Who is Seal and how did she get possession of Miss Kanagawa?

I love this book. The author is superb in describing details and events pertaining to each period of time in the five stories, weaving historical facts with fiction. She has done her research well, and brings alive a period of time that my mother lived in. I also like the incorporation of Japanese culture and its philosophy into the story; my son is half-Japanese and I will give him this book to read when he is older. Although sad at times, the stories are inspirational and at the heart of this is Miss Kanagawa.

I highly recommend this book not only for children, but adults as well. This is children's literature at its best.

Japan sends 58 friendship dolls to the U.S. to improve relations between the two countries. One special doll, Miss Kanagawa, helps four Americans balance their desires between good and bad. Four separate stories are included in Kirby Larson's latest book, THE FRIENDSHIP DOLL, each featuring Miss Kanagawa.

The first story takes place in 1928 when the dolls arrive in New York. Bunny Harden wants to give a speech at the opening ceremony, but Belle Wyatt Roosevelt is chosen. This infuriates Bunny, who is set on ruining Belle's speech. Before the ceremony, Bunny stumbles upon the room where the dolls are kept. She's drawn to Miss Kanagawa, who it seems is not only looking right at her but is also talking to her. The doll remembers when her maker, Master Tatsuhiko, said that bad and good are intertwined. She knows that she must help Bunny make the right decision.

The next story takes place in Downers Grove, Illinois, in 1933. Here we meet Lois Brown, a dreamer who wants to fly someday and whose idol is Amelia Earhart. Her Aunt Eunice stops by for a visit with a surprise --- two tickets to the Chicago World's Fair. Lois is excited to go, but wishes she could take her best friend, Mable. Aunt Eunice pays extra for the doll exhibit, saying that afterwards Lois can use her own quarter to go on the Sky Ride. Lois is beside herself, but first she needs to get through the doll exhibit. There she comes across Miss Kanagawa, who seems to be talking to her. The doll realizes that Lois needs her help.

The third story takes place in Miracle, Kentucky, in 1937. Willie Mae Marcum is dirt poor. Ms. Junkins, who stops by with books for her every week, eventually gets her a job reading to an elderly woman named Mrs. Weldon. The old lady doesn't warm up to most people, but sees that Willie Mae is curious and intelligent. During her stay, Willie Mae becomes very sick. Mrs. Weldon leaves her room for the first time in a long time to stay by Willie Mae's bedside and read to the girl. She places Miss Kanagawa in Willie Mae's bed.

Lastly, readers meet Lucy Turner from Oklahoma during the Great Depression (1939-1941). When Lucy's mom dies, her father decides to move them to California in hopes of finding work, but they end up in Oregon. One day, Lucy's classroom takes a field trip to the Ketteman's Museum. Lucy sees Miss Kanagawa there and ends up making more visits to see the doll. Miss Kanagawa gives Lucy hope not to give in to despair, and inspires her to write letters for the people in the camp who can't communicate with family or friends.

Each story in THE FRIENDSHIP DOLL is unique. While all are winners, I thought the standout story was with Willie Mae, an amazing young girl with a touching tale. The old woman loses her sense of affection, but regains it through the help of Willie Mae and Miss Kanagawa.

--- Reviewed by Kathleen M. Purcell

In 1927, 58 handcrafted, oversized dolls left Japan and sailed to the United States, gifts of schoolchildren to be ambassadors of goodwill and friendship. Kirby Larson's sweet novel imagines the journeys of one of those dolls, Miss Kanagawa, from the hands of her maker to her encounters with girls around the country.

Each story has a great deal of personality and life. The same could be said for Miss Kanagawa, who is anthropomorphized into a sassy and loveably character. Readers trace her visits from New York to Chicago, the hollers of Kentucky to rural Oregon. As they are exposed to people of different classes and places with relatable struggles and difficulties. The Great Depression is well treated by the many glimpses into different situations (as opposed to a single narrative.)

The writing was clear and lovely, certainly not writing down to the audience, and I think children (particularly girls) will like it a great deal. As a person who appreciates both creative license and precision, I loved the author's notes at the end that detail what was known about each part of the story, and the friendship dolls' journeys around the United States. Between its literary and historic merits, The Friendship Doll is sure to be a contender for many of this years prestigious awards.

I asked my 11 yr. old daughter to read this book to help with my review, since this book is targeted to 9-12 yr. olds. Unlike some books geared toward her age, she did not finish it in an hour (she reads above her age level), rather it took her some time which made it a more satisfying read for her.

The Depression Era is an important time period for children to learn about in a culture that can be quite materialistic. This book relates this time in such a way that girls can learn that hardships and lack of material possessions do not necessarily mean your life cannot be meaningful. I also believe this story can stir empathy within the girls who read it. It is an eye-opening exposure to some of the more difficult realities of life, without being too harsh or difficult to understand.

My daughter made the following points while we discussed "The Friendship Doll":

- This is the same time setting as Kit Kittredge (from American Girl), which is another Depression Era story she is familiar with, and that familiarity gave her a frame of reference when reading "The Friendship Doll"

- She was surprised at how little things cost back then, which, she also noted, means that people earned a lot less

- This was her first time reading about the World's Fair, which she found to be an intriguing part of history, and we took a look online at some World's Fair historical buildings, including the Eiffel Tower, the Seattle Space Needle, and the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, NY which we just happened to drive by while on a previous vacation

These points show me that this book opened the door in her mind toward learning. This is something I look for in good books for kids. Beyond the story itself, if they learn new things about the world around them, then the book is definitely worthy of our time.

This beautifully woven story taught me something, as well, since I was unaware of Japan's Ambassadors of Friendship doll program. I find this idea appealing - wouldn't it be wonderful to recreate this program today between other countries?

I highly recommend "The Friendship Doll", and so does my daughter!

The Friendship Doll shows Kirby Larson, winner of a Newbery Honor for HATTIE BIG SKY, at her inventive and subtle best. The book is a series of narratives linked by the tart observations of a Japanese friendship doll of the sort sent by Japan to the states as a thank-you gift in the years between the first and second world wars. And it tells the stories of hearts awakened by friendship, how it both hurts and heals us to join our fates to others. It's a new Velveteen Rabbit for older readers, and I loved every page. It's a book parents and children will enjoy reading together, and I wouldn't be surprised to see this one pick up some lovely awards.

This book is based on actual events and people. Most of it is purely fiction, though. I think Amazon's description sums the story up pretty well:

"I am Miss Kanagawa. In 1927, my 57 doll-sisters and I were sent from Japan to America as Ambassadors of Friendship. Our work wasn't all peach blossoms and tea cakes. My story will take you from New York to Oregon, during the Great Depression. Though few in this tale are as fascinating as I, their stories won't be an unpleasant diversion. You will make the acquaintance of Bunny, bent on revenge; Lois, with her head in the clouds; Willie Mae, who not only awakened my heart, but broke it; and Lucy, a friend so dear, not even war could part us. I have put this tale to paper because from those 58 Friendship Dolls only 45 remain. I know that someone who chooses this book is capable of solving the mystery of the missing sisters. Perhaps that someone is you"

This book is broken up into sections. Each of the girls has their own story, so other than Kanagawa, they have nothing to do with each other. It makes it much easier if you happen to be reading to a child or children. It doesn't take very long to read each story. As an adult, though, there are a couple of the stories that I would have loved to be longer, especially Willie Mae's.

Lawson does a wonderful job of writing about the Depression. I think this book could help young readers better understand what kids went through during this tough time. It might even teach all of us just how good we have it now. There was a line that told of a little girl thinking she was going to get fat because she had breakfast three times(!) that week. It broke my heart!

I only have one complaint about the whole book. I didn't really care for one line that says God didn't pay any attention to one of the little girl's prayers.

I just don't think God ignores any of our prayers, so some explaining could be in order for children learning about prayer. This isn't a Christian book, though.

The Friendship Doll was a very sweet, but heartbreaking story. It's entertainment and education rolled into one. :)

*I was provided an Advanced Reader's Copy, so the lines I wrote about may or may not be in the final copy.