Dolls of Hope

September 1, 2015

Gr 3-6-Set in 1927 Japan, this companion book to Ship of Dolls (Candlewick, 2014) continues with the story of the Friendship Dolls project, an international exchange of dolls intended as a gesture of peace between America and Japan. When 11-year-old Chiyo disobeys her parents and sneaks along on a visit to see her sister's wealthy fiance, she is sent by him to an exclusive boarding school in the city to learn "poise and dignity." Chiyo misses her rural home and family and struggles with issues of class and economic status at her new school. She is also bullied by Miyamoto, the esteemed daughter of a prestigious military general, who vigorously opposes the doll exchange as a sign of weakness. When Chiyo, Miyamoto, and a few other girls are selected to sing at the doll welcoming ceremony in Tokyo, Miyamoto's bullying escalates, culminating in the destruction of Emily Grace, the American doll meant for their school. When Chiyo is blamed for the incident, her expulsion from school imminent, she runs away seeking help from a master doll maker. The conflict is resolved just a little too tidily. However, readers will find no trouble connecting with Chiyo, an endearing main character who is struggling to find her way in the world while conforming to societal mores and expectations. This work is also a fascinating look at Japanese culture and customs in the 1920s. VERDICT Doll aficionados, those who like boarding school books, and fans of the first title will not be disappointed.-Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
A companion piece to Parenteau's Ship of Dolls (2014), this historical novel explores the 1926 Dolls of Friendship international project, a gesture for peace between the U.S. and Japan, from the point of view of a girl growing up in Japan. Eleven-year-old Chiyo can't resist sneaking into Masako's marriage meeting to see her sister's future husband, Yamada Nori, for herself. Caught red-handed, she is sent to a girls' school far away in Tsuchiura. According to Yamada Nori, she will learn proper behavior and put her "hill country wildness behind her." If Chiyo does well and learns to model herself after Miyamoto Hoshi, a general's daughter, she can return home for Masako's wedding. Soon opportunity knocks. Together with her friend, Nakata Hana, and five others, Chiyo is selected to sing "The Welcome Song" during the ceremony in Tokyo to welcome the dolls from America. To everyone's surprise, Chiyo becomes connected to one doll, Emily Grace, setting off a pathway to self-discovery. Chiyo's struggle to live up to societal and gender-based expectations while also following her heart feels genuine and cheer-worthy. She questions the norm while respecting tradition, no matter how seemingly unfair. Her battles with Hoshi, however, appear one-dimensional, with a less-than-satisfying resolution between the two. Regardless, Chiyo's affection for Emily Grace fascinates, and the message of friendship and peace between nations endures, while a small-town girl's honor is redefined. (author's note, glossary) (Historical fiction. 8-12)

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September 1, 2015
Ship of Dolls (rev. 9/14) was inspired by the true story of how, in 1926, American children sent more than twelve thousand dolls to Japana project to promote friendship and peace between the two countries; in this sequel, a Japanese girl is given the responsibility of caring for the American doll sent to her school. The first book, set in California, followed eleven-year-old Lexie and her love for one of the donated dolls, Emily Grace; Dolls of Hope tells of eleven-year-old Chiyo, her own affection for Emily Grace, and her tribulations at school. Chiyo's classmate Hoshi makes her life miserable, especially after Hoshi's father, a stern military man who withholds the approval she craves, visits their school and praises Chiyo. Chiyo, too, wants to make her farmer parents proud, but more than that she needs to impress her future brother-in-law, a wealthy widower who has paid her tuitionand who, she fears, may call off the wedding to her sister if Chiyo dishonors her family. Though less flawed than Lexie, and therefore less interesting, Chiyo still wins readers over in this stand-alone story, and fans of the first book will enjoy following Emily Grace across the world to her new homeand getting an intriguing look at Japan's own project to send dolls to the U.S. in exchange. jennifer m. brabander

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