The Bracelet - Yoskiko Uchida

This story is a heart felt story about a girl who must leave her best friend to go to an interment camp where all Japanese Americans must go. Water color paintings are exhibited throughout the story. I enjoyed reading the story because she uses the memory of her friends, school and her house to help her survive a difficult situation. Sometimes memories are all that someone has to help them cope with situations. The story is based in the year 1942 when the U.S. and Japan are at war. My reaction was influenced by a childhood memory of when I had to move away from my friends, school and my home. It is very difficult to leave people and places that you care about and remembering the good times can help you deal with it. Other books that Yoskiko Uchida has written are A Jar of Dreams, The Best Bad Thing, Picture Bride, Journey to Topaz and others. Many of her writings are inspired by her Japanese heritage. I learned that children's literature can help children deal with emotional situations because they can read about other childrens' experiences and see ways that he or she handled their own situation.