What do you think?
Candle in the Wind
On the night of a party celebrating his acceptance into Harvard, Harris Mizuno, a Japanese-American teenager, is shot dead by an elderly white man who mistakes him for an intruder when Harris asks to use the phone because his car has stalled.
It's up to fifteen-year-old Terri Mizuno to take charge when her family falls apart in grief and anger over the tragic murder of her brother. Worse, the sleepy town of Whiteriver, Massachusetts, erupts into hatred, bigotry, and vigilantism. Even Terri's best friend cannot avoid taking sides for or against the frightened old man in the sensationalized court case that follows.
As white supremacist groups descend on the town and attacks of hate graffiti, vandalism, and violence mount against Asian families, the threat of even more bloodshed emerges. Terri knows she must shine the light of reason and understanding on the torn community. And as she tries, she finds help in the most unexpected places....
It's up to fifteen-year-old Terri Mizuno to take charge when her family falls apart in grief and anger over the tragic murder of her brother. Worse, the sleepy town of Whiteriver, Massachusetts, erupts into hatred, bigotry, and vigilantism. Even Terri's best friend cannot avoid taking sides for or against the frightened old man in the sensationalized court case that follows.
As white supremacist groups descend on the town and attacks of hate graffiti, vandalism, and violence mount against Asian families, the threat of even more bloodshed emerges. Terri knows she must shine the light of reason and understanding on the torn community. And as she tries, she finds help in the most unexpected places....
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 27, 1995
About the author
Maureen Crane Wartski
20 books3 followersMaureen Crane Wartski (Maureen Ann Crane) was born on January 25, 1940 in Ashiya, Japan. She earned her B.A. degree from Sophia University in 1962. As a children's and young adult author, she won the Annual Book Award of the Child Study Committee at Bank Street College of Education for A Boat to Nowhere. In addition to writing children's books, she published romance novels under various pseudonyms, including Francine Shore, Evelyn Shannon, Cynthia Leigh, Laura Jorda, Cynthia Sinclair, and Rebecca Ward. She also wrote for magazines, such as Boy's Life. As well as writing, Wartski taught at Sharon High School in Sharon, Massachusetts, and pursued various creative arts, such as painting and quilt making. She was married to Maximillian Wartski, and travelled with him for his career in the military. Her two sons, Albert and Mark, were born in Thailand, before they moved to the United States in the 1960s. Wartski died on January 14, 2014 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 5, 2011
Did NOT expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I stayed up most of the night, after coming home VERY late, reading the book - I just couldn't put it down, until I actually fell asleep. Very endearing story into the lives of Japanese-Americans.
January 5, 2023
Oof. This did not pull many punches. Very poignant story about hate and loss. I did tear up a little at the end
April 17, 2008
It was a good book to use with students when discussing discrimination and hate. It was a little drug out a long though.
July 7, 2008
I really liked this book. It was kinda sad though...
December 14, 2011
Reading in English class. Haven't started and not really sure what to expect.
Okay I liked this book didn't love it but it was really good.
Okay I liked this book didn't love it but it was really good.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews