A Jar of Dreams by Yoshiko Uchida is told in first person by Rinko, an eleven year old Japanese girl growing up in California during the Great Depression. She expresses the troubles her family has being a minority in a mainly white community. Her family experiences ridicules, discrimination, and even violent acts such as car tires being slashed and the family dog being shot.
Rinko's father owns a struggling barber shop that has a hard time paying the rent. His dream is to won his own garage as he enjoys fixing things. Her older brother, Cal, is an engineer student who is losing his dream of becoming an engineer due to a fear that no one will hire him because of his skin color. She also has a little brother, Joji, who did not play a major role in the book. The family is friends with Mrs. Sugar, the next door neighbor, and Uncle Kanda, a man that rode the same boat to California with the parents. Rinko's parents has instilled the value of an education in their children by creating "going to college" jars or jar of dreams.
The family's life is turned upside down by the news that Rinko's Aunt Waka will come to visit from Japan. At first, Rinko is embarrassed and not excited about her visit as she dresses in kimonos and is proud of her Japanese heritage. Rinko wishes she could be like everyone else. With the help of Aunt Waka and Uncle Kanda, the family is able to put a stop to community members that have been mistreating them, open dream businesses for their parents, and affirming the children's dreams of going to college. In the end, Rinko is sad to see Aunt Waka leave and wishes she used the time to get to know her better.
I really enjoyed this book. I was worried that I wouldn't like it. I really enjoyed how it included information about the Japanese heritage. This book reminded me of the book The Star Fisher written by Laurence Yep. Both books involved families with diverse cultural backgrounds experiencing discrimination. The Depression time period, the idea that the families are opening new businesses, and the strong, elderly next door neighbors that become friends with the family are themes evident in both books.
This book could be used in the classroom to teach about the Great Depression as Rinko discusses how times are rough and how they must watch their pennies. It also could be used to teach about prejudices and acceptance of others.
The author has written many other books such as: Hisako's Mysteries, Sumi and the Goat and the Tokyo Express, Makoto, The Smallest Boy, The Rooster who Understood Japanese, and The Bracelet. I have not read any other books written by the author but conclude by reading titles of other works that she writes books that integrate the Japanese culture.
Rinko's father owns a struggling barber shop that has a hard time paying the rent. His dream is to won his own garage as he enjoys fixing things. Her older brother, Cal, is an engineer student who is losing his dream of becoming an engineer due to a fear that no one will hire him because of his skin color. She also has a little brother, Joji, who did not play a major role in the book. The family is friends with Mrs. Sugar, the next door neighbor, and Uncle Kanda, a man that rode the same boat to California with the parents. Rinko's parents has instilled the value of an education in their children by creating "going to college" jars or jar of dreams.
The family's life is turned upside down by the news that Rinko's Aunt Waka will come to visit from Japan. At first, Rinko is embarrassed and not excited about her visit as she dresses in kimonos and is proud of her Japanese heritage. Rinko wishes she could be like everyone else. With the help of Aunt Waka and Uncle Kanda, the family is able to put a stop to community members that have been mistreating them, open dream businesses for their parents, and affirming the children's dreams of going to college. In the end, Rinko is sad to see Aunt Waka leave and wishes she used the time to get to know her better.
I really enjoyed this book. I was worried that I wouldn't like it. I really enjoyed how it included information about the Japanese heritage. This book reminded me of the book The Star Fisher written by Laurence Yep. Both books involved families with diverse cultural backgrounds experiencing discrimination. The Depression time period, the idea that the families are opening new businesses, and the strong, elderly next door neighbors that become friends with the family are themes evident in both books.
This book could be used in the classroom to teach about the Great Depression as Rinko discusses how times are rough and how they must watch their pennies. It also could be used to teach about prejudices and acceptance of others.
The author has written many other books such as: Hisako's Mysteries, Sumi and the Goat and the Tokyo Express, Makoto, The Smallest Boy, The Rooster who Understood Japanese, and The Bracelet. I have not read any other books written by the author but conclude by reading titles of other works that she writes books that integrate the Japanese culture.
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