Dottie and Louise are the best of friends. Their friendship is able to endure the tragic event of the Japanese being sent to camps. But with such a big distance between them, how will they be able to make it through?

This book is wonderful for the classroom because not only is it full of historical facts, pictures, and news articles, but it also contains a story of a beautiful friendship. Students will be able to enjoy what they are reading, while also being informed about what happened during World War II. Dottie and Louise are close to the readers’ age, so readers will find themselves wondering what it would have been like if they had been in that situation. Some readers may also be able to relate to the struggles Dottie and Louise encountered. A best friend may have had to move away, so the reader can sympathize with the characters. This book is written in the teen’s point of view which makes it easier for the students to follow along while still clearly stating the tragedies that happened in World War II.

Reading Level: Primary-Middle School (4th-8th)
Genre: Historical Fiction

What an enjoyable way to learn about history-- reading a young woman's journal and scrapbook from WWII. It is full of artifacts and realia. The writing gives us a view into the treatment of the Japanese Americans who were imprisoned after Pearl Harbor.

This was a good book to introduce children to the problems the Japanese Americans faced in WW II. I loved the approach of a scrapbook and letters between kids who are not yet biased on the view of the world. The author is honest about the effects on the japanese and lets kids now that we did not treat them right. I would have liked more of an ending... but good build of history and a story. ( )

Fourteen-year-old Louise keeps a scrapbook detailing the events in her life after her best friend, a Japanese-American girl, and her family are sent to a relocation camp during World War II. ( )