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 bloss...
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Nov 05, 2011
Richie
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9 May 2011 FRIENDSHIP DOLL by Kirby Larson, Delacorte, May 2011, 208p., ISBN: 978-0-385-73745-6; Libr. ISBN: 978-0-385-90667-8
"I have to say my friends
This road goes a long, long way
And if we're going to find the end
We're gonna need a helping hand."
-- Elton John, "Salvation"
"Though he wasn't like Kurita -- a man whose endless boasts clanged like the chappa cymbal -- he was proud of his efforts. His wife would be too, were More...
"I have to say my friends
This road goes a long, long way
And if we're going to find the end
We're gonna need a helping hand."
-- Elton John, "Salvation"
"Though he wasn't like Kurita -- a man whose endless boasts clanged like the chappa cymbal -- he was proud of his efforts. His wife would be too, were More...
Jul 31, 2011
Barbara
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This is another satisfying piece of historical fiction from the always-reliable Kirby Larson. I was mesmerized by the story from its opening pages and read it in one installment. I love how history is woven with the creative imaginings of "What if?" from the author. Fifty-eight dolls actually were sent to this country as Ambassadors of Friendship from Japan in response to doll gifts sent to Japan from the United States earlier. Larson imagines the travels and brief enounters one partic
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Jul 22, 2011
Dori
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This is a delicious book that made me smile many times. Miss Kanagawa, a three-foot-tall doll hand-made in Japan, came to the United States in 1927, along with 57 other dolls, as an ambassador of friendship. That much is a true story. What American children might she have met, and how might she have affected their lives? That is where Kirby Larson’s vivid imagination kicks in.
A rich, spoiled girl in New York City in 1928. A daughter of an unemployed mechanic in Chicago in the early da More...
A rich, spoiled girl in New York City in 1928. A daughter of an unemployed mechanic in Chicago in the early da More...
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Jun 15, 2011
Susie
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Each of the stories in this book could stand alone; Larson was able to include so much in just 200 pages. At first I would be disappointed that one story was finished and I had to start over again, but each story became very compelling. I really enjoy books that make me want to find out more about their background (if based on fact), and this one encouraged me to find out more about the friendship dolls. I imagine that students reading this book may not have a lot of knowledge about WPA, the
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Jun 03, 2011
Cindy
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In the 1920s, 58 dolls were sent as ambassadors of friendship from the children of Japan to the children of the United States. About three feet tall, these dolls had human hair and came dressed in kimonos and accompanied by accessories such as tea sets and parasols. The Friendship Doll by Kirby Larson is the fictionalized story of one of them, Miss Kanagawa.
Miss Kanagawa takes her role as an ambassador seriously. Still, she is surprised to find a connection at times with the children s More...
Miss Kanagawa takes her role as an ambassador seriously. Still, she is surprised to find a connection at times with the children s More...
May 25, 2011
Grier
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Take 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 th More...
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 th More...
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May 06, 2011
Margo
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Award-winning author Kirby Larson's newest historical fiction novel for children tells the story of four girls whose lives are intertwined with a remarkable nearly life-size Japanese doll. Larson was inspired by a photograph she found while researching her earlier book, Hattie Big Sky. This photo showed a 1920's Montana farm girl dressed in overalls standing next to an exquisitely detailed Japanese doll, dressed in traditional kimono. Larson's research unearthed the true story of 58 dolls sen
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Nov 27, 2011
Terri
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"The Friendship Doll" by Kirby Larson, a middle grades read, is being discussed as a possible contender for the Newbery (Larson's "Hattie Big Sky" was a Newbery Honor Book). Larson's latest is a wonderful example of a well-researched piece of Historical Fiction. The story was inspired by a photograph Larson found while doing research for "Hattie Big Sky" of a young girl standing next to a Japanese doll that was nearly as tall as she was. Based on a true story, "
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Aug 04, 2011
Kathy
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What a wonderful and touching story about a Japanese doll and the young American girls who were touched by her and who had their lives changed by her. Miss Kanagawa was the final doll made by a famous Japanese dollmaker and begins the story very proud of her role as an ambassador of friendship.
The story ranges in time from 1927 when the dolls arrive in the US to the present day. But the bulk of the story talks about the doll's interaction with four young girls. The first if Bunny. She More...
The story ranges in time from 1927 when the dolls arrive in the US to the present day. But the bulk of the story talks about the doll's interaction with four young girls. The first if Bunny. She More...
Dec 26, 2011
Wendy
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I don't know quite what it is, but for some reason this book really annoyed me, and I found it more annoying the further along I got. It started off pretty well, and I wondered how much weight I should put to the feeling that it was strongly derivative of Hitty, Her First Hundred Years. (Not just the idea of a doll moving through time, witnessing American history, belonging to and affecting different children, etc--goodness, you'd think that'd be enough, wouldn't you?--but the doll's personality
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Oct 30, 2011
Sarah
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In 1927, 58 life-sized dolls were created by master dollmakers and sent to the US by Japanese schoolchildren as a gesture of goodwill to the children of America. Kirby’s novel follows the path of one of these dolls, Miss Kanagawa, through her debut in a New York City department store to the Chicago World’s Fair then on to Kentucky and Oregon at the start of the Second World War. Miss Kanagawa’s story is a series of encounters with the girls who awaken her heart as she discovers the true meaning
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Jun 07, 2011
Bluerose's
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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 diversi More...
"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 diversi More...
Jan 11, 2012
Heidi
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I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this book. This is the first book I've read by Kirby Larson and while I've heard great things about her writing and she does have a Newbery Honor book, Hattie Big Sky, to her credit, that doesn't always mean I will enjoy the book. There are plenty of award winning books that I have not enjoyed. But this book presents an interesting concept, similar to Hitty, Her First Hundred Years, except here, the doll in some magical way manages to communicate
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Dec 22, 2011
Amy
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I do love a good historical fiction book! This is the fictional story of Miss Kanagawa, one of 53 real Japanese dolls sent to the US in 1927 as "messengers of friendship". Over the course of the next 80-odd years, Miss Kanagawa comes in contact with several young girls: Bunny Harnden who participates in the welcoming committee for the dolls and envies her classmate, Belle Roosevelt (President Roosevelt's granddaughter), who is chosen to give the acceptance speech; Lois Brown who vis
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May 26, 2011
Laurie
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Wow. I predict we'll be hearing MUCH more about this book in the coming year! Kirby Larson has done it again with this unique collection of stories about 4 (or 5, depending on how you count them) different children's lives, all woven together by the common thread of one doll's journey. There's so much here for middle-grade girls to soak up, from the individual lessons on friendship, to the different historical periods and multiple geographic locations, to the realistic and charismatic main chara
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Nov 14, 2011
Jane
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As a piece of writing, I found much to love in this book, particularly the multiple vividly rendered main characters, the historical detail, and the thought-provoking nature of some of the author's plot choices. Partial spoiler alert: The death of an important character was shocking to me, and left me thinking (still thinking) about the way most lives do not follow a satisfying narrative structure with closure, as was the case here. They are simply cut off, particularly when young people die s
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Sep 02, 2011
Lorriezm
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In 1927, fifty-eight dolls were given to the US by Japan as Ambassadors of Friendship. Miss Kanagawa, one of the dolls, takes her role seriously and shares the story of her adventure with the reader. Kirby Larson's writing pulls you in and won't let you stop, as you follow Miss Kanagawa's journey through the years, hoping to find out where she is today.
Thirteen of the original fifty-eight dolls are still missing. You will have to read the story to see if Miss Kanagawa is one of them!
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Thirteen of the original fifty-eight dolls are still missing. You will have to read the story to see if Miss Kanagawa is one of them!
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Jul 14, 2011
Hannah
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About: It tells of the life and experiences of the friendship doll sent from Japan to America, Miss Kanagawa, and how she meets four different girls, each with different stories. Bunny, the mischief-maker, is the first she meets. Then Lois, the dreamer. Then she meets Willie Mae, who, as the book says, not only awakened her heart but also broke it. And Lucy, her truest and most faithful friend.
Pros: The book is very well written. The story is just amazing (it's a Newberry Honor winner More...
Pros: The book is very well written. The story is just amazing (it's a Newberry Honor winner More...
May 01, 2011
Reader
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True Fact: In 1927 about 57 three-foot tall doll ambassadors were sent to the children of America from Japan. Our story follows one of those dolls, Miss Kanagawa, who may be proud but is able to help four different girls with their problems. The story follows the doll as she is sent around the country, then to a museum, and finally to a girl who grows up to have a great life. Each chapter is a different girl's story, which is pretty neat, and the tales are fun. Unfortunately, all the girls
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Jan 07, 2012
Rachael
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I read this last fall and was a little disappointed because I loved Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson and was hoping for a similar read here. The premise of this book is promising, following the journey of a doll sent to the US from Japan as a diplomatic gesture after WWII. But I had a hard time getting past the doll's perspective, not because the idea of a "living" doll was a problem, but because her snotty attitude isn't very endearing. I think I mostly felt like this book was a good
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Sep 07, 2011
Kristen
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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 More...
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 More...
Jun 14, 2011
Margi
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I can't say enough about this book. I read it in an hour because I could not put it down. I was not familiar with the Friendship Doll Program and this story takes that actual event and intermingles it with wonderful fiction. It touches on different times in American history and interweaves the story of the doll and the story of the children and their families. The book takes us to the Chicago's World Fair, to the Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky, to the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma. This is the B
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Dec 30, 2011
Shannon
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Just fine. You know I adore the Depression era, and I liked parts of the book very much, but I don't think it will stick around as a legendary book. I LOVE that Kirby Larson pursued this book, though, just based on a photo she found when she was researching Hattie Big Sky.
As a Seattelite, whose city is gearing up for the 50th anniversary of the 1962 World's Fair, I also enjoyed being front seat at the Chicago World's Fair. This also made me want to read Devil in the White City. I know More...
As a Seattelite, whose city is gearing up for the 50th anniversary of the 1962 World's Fair, I also enjoyed being front seat at the Chicago World's Fair. This also made me want to read Devil in the White City. I know More...
Dec 06, 2010
Linda
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So far it's just wonderful! I think it's going to be a big hit and can't wait until it comes out so I can recommend it to girls everywhere.
What an absolutely charming book-the stories of the 4 different girls and what they overcome with the help of Miss Kanagawa was one I didn't want to end. I must confess the 3rd story almost had me in tears(won't say any more because I don't want to give anything away) I can't wait until my niece is old enough to read this one. This is by far the fav More...
What an absolutely charming book-the stories of the 4 different girls and what they overcome with the help of Miss Kanagawa was one I didn't want to end. I must confess the 3rd story almost had me in tears(won't say any more because I don't want to give anything away) I can't wait until my niece is old enough to read this one. This is by far the fav More...
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Aug 14, 2011
Mary Ann
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In 1927, Japanese schoolchildren sent 58 dolls to the children of the United States as a gesture of goodwill and friendship. Kirby Larson shapes a touching story, following the travels of one of these dolls, Miss Kanagawa. At first, Miss Kanagawa is haughty and dismissive of the children who come to see her on display. “I am above all an ambassador, a dignitary. I simply happen to be a doll.” But through the course of the story, her heart is awakened by four different children she meets during h
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Apr 23, 2011
Cheryl
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I hand-sold this book three weeks before its debut, because I couldn't wait to recommend it! Kirby leaves no avenue unexplored when she is reaserching her historic fiction, and the true story of the Friendship Dolls sent from Japan to America in 1927 is a unique springboard to American history from then to the present. Here's another engaging novel perfect for parent/child book clubs -- and if you're nostalgic you'll find comparisons to Laura Lee Hope novels of the 1930's, and perhaps Edward T
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Dec 29, 2011
Laura
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An imagined story about real dolls, this has all the tropes we look for in stories about dolls: they want to be real, the children they really respond to are those who are really needy (emotionally, economically, etc.) and things never follow a smooth path.
Told in several installments, Miss Kanagawa's "life" intersects with several children - Bunny, who meets her just as the Friendship Dolls are arriving in America from Japan, Lois, viewing her during the start of the Great More...
Told in several installments, Miss Kanagawa's "life" intersects with several children - Bunny, who meets her just as the Friendship Dolls are arriving in America from Japan, Lois, viewing her during the start of the Great More...
Oct 01, 2011
Heather S. W.
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If there was a road map to take and a check list to follow to win a Newbery ALA award, this book would have it all. It has some poignant parts, some parts that make you cry, it is historical, there are great characters, there are great lessons and moral fortitude to push through and it is extremely well written.
I thought it was great. One of those rare children's books that I enjoyed reading as an adult (I'm picky and don't like reading kids books in general)
I thought it was great. One of those rare children's books that I enjoyed reading as an adult (I'm picky and don't like reading kids books in general)
Nov 27, 2011
Teresa
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I was skeptical going into this book but it more than proved me wrong. The premise is a doll sent from Japan to the US, in a collection as goodwill ambassadors, interacts with characters from different viewpoints from the early 20's up to the present. A wonderful collection of beautiful vignettes - personal insights - into what life was like during the Depression and the beginning of WWII ending in the present. A great way to sneak in history lessons!
Nov 27, 2011
katsok
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After attending NCTE and having friends comment on the fact that I hadn't read this book and why haven't I read it and when was I going to read it, I set about to right this wrong. What a perfectly wonderful book. In many ways it reminds me of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by DiCamillo in that there is an object at the center of the books that is on a journey and needs to understand what love is about. In this book it is a doll, a simply beautiful doll.
Larson uses the fact More...
Larson uses the fact More...
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