A Jar of Dreams

Interesting, quick read, not too intense though some very bad things happen some good ones do, too. Not too much focus on school, but rather more on neighbors. Probably especially valuable to children of immigrants who can directly empathize with the need to adapt to a new culture.

( So sad to think that in a few years these people will be sent off to internment camps. )

Rinko is growing up in 1935 California. She believes that America is supposed to be the land of the free. However, she doesn't feel like she belongs here even if she was born here. She is not proud of her Japanese heritage because kids at school make fun of her, call her names and make her feel like an outsider. Then her Aunt Waka comes to spend the summer with her. It is her aunt who makes her father stand up to a bully, and decide to sell his business and start the business that he has always dreamed of having. It is his aunt who has, with the help of her Uncle Kanda, convinced her brother to continue with his college and encouraged her to reach for her own dream.
For such a small book this had such a powerful message. I really show more enjoyed the way Waka showed Rinko that she should be proud of who she is no matter where she is. I am sorry I waited so long to get around to this book it was really a great one. show less

There is a young girl named Romika.Romika is 13 years old . Her family traveled to America from Japan. She goes through hard problems in school and out school. When she walks by the laundry store to go to her dads barbor shop theres a guy who yells at them a says go away stupid Japanese kids. Also theres alot of bill that need to be paid at home. In school kids treat her differently than other kids. They talk about her behind her back and sometimes put stuff on her back. Then her aunt comes from Japan anad teaches Romika that you shouldn't be a shammed of her self and and be proud of be a Japaneese kid. At then end of the story her aunt leaves to go back to Japan and Romika relized that she doesn't care what people think of her.

I kinda show more liked this book because it didn't really stick out with like the other two stories I read. I was really hard to stay focus while reading it.I liked it to because it show how she stood up for herself than being bullied. Another thing I liked this book because when her aunt was teaching Romiko that it is all right to be a Japanese. It was interesting how her aunt traveledto American from Japan on a ship. Romiko even helped her parents with work that took time so im proud of her. So that's why I liked this story and didn't like the story. show less

Eleven-year-old Rinko grows up in a closely-knit Japanese American family in California during the Depression, a time of great prejudice.