Dash

by Kirby Larson Narrated by Kathy Hsieh

Overview

New from Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson, the moving story of a Japanese American girl who is separated from her dog upon being sent to an incarceration camp during WWII.

Although Mitsi Kashino and her family are swept up in the wave of anti-Japanese sentiment following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mitsi never expects to lose her home--or her beloved dog, Dash. But, as World War II rages and people of Japanese descent are forced into incarceration camps, Mitsi is separated from Dash, her classmates, and life as she knows it. The camp is a crowded and unfamiliar place, whose dusty floors, seemingly endless lines, and barbed wire fences begin to unravel the strong Kashino family ties. With the help of a friendly neighbor back home, Mitsi remains connected to Dash in spite of the hard times, holding on to the hope that the war will end soon and life will return to normal. Though they've lost their home, will the Kashino family also lose their sense of family? And will Mitsi and Dash ever be reunited?

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

★ 06/16/2014
As she did in Duke (2013), Larson centers this trenchant novel on a child dealing with hardships on the home front during WWII, including separation from a beloved dog. Inspired by real-life wartime events, the novel vividly communicates the emotional and physical ordeals endured by Japanese-Americans evacuated to relocation camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. A pall descends early in the story, as 11-year-old Mitsi Kashino contends with classmates’ slurs and snubs, including some from her two best friends. After learning of her family’s impending relocation, Mitsi is devastated to discover that her one steadfast ally, her dog Dash, cannot accompany them. Asking a neighbor to take care of Dash, “Mitsi thought she had cried out all her tears, but a couple more leaked out.” Reprising the narrative conceit used in Duke, Larson incorporates correspondence between the girl and Dash, whose letters are the work of a surprising ghostwriter. Despite the hurdles Mitsi faces, hope, resourcefulness, and a new friend help this relatable heroine triumph. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Grinberg Literary Management. (Aug.)

From the Publisher

Praise for Dash:

Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

*"Emotionally satisfying and thought-provoking." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

*"[A] trenchant novel." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Historical fiction at its best." -- School Library Journal

Praise for Duke:

*"Exceptionally well-crafted and emotionally authentic." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

*"[An] incisive tale of loyalty, patriotism, sacrifice, and bravery." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A good example of how bravery comes in all shapes, sizes -- and breeds." -- Booklist

Praise for Dear America: The Fences Between Us:

"Larson deftly folds historical detail into Piper's lively diary entries, which describe her friendships, first romance, and school dramas as well as her view of the subsequent internment of Japanese Americans and the prejudice against sympathizers." -- Booklist

"Larson does an excellent job recreating the tension Piper feels. . . . [a] well-researched novel." -- VOYA

Praise for Hattie Big Sky:

A Newbery Honor Recipient

*"[An] engaging historical novel... [Larson] creates a richly textured novel full of memorable characters." -- Booklist, starred review

*"Larson... create[s] a masterful picture of the homesteading experience and the people who persevered." -- School Library Journal, starred review

"Refreshing." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

*"This emotionally satisfying and thought-provoking book will have readers pulling for Mitsi and Dash"- KIRKUS REVIEWS, starred review

*"Despite the hurdles Mitsi faces, hope, resourcefulness, and a new friend help this relatable heroine triumph." -PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, starred review

School Library Journal

06/01/2014
Gr 3–6—After Pearl Harbor, life changes for fifth grader Mitzi Kashino and her family, as it did for all Japanese American citizens across the US during that time. Family and friends are shunned, bullied, fingerprinted, and even incarcerated for visiting Japan. Relocation from Seattle, WA to Camp Harmony, and ultimately to Minidoka, ID, causes the loss of jobs, school, homes, cars, and personal possessions. Pets were not allowed in the camps, and this is where Mitzi's dog Dash becomes the linchpin in Larson's story. Recognizing the injustice, neighbor Mrs. Bowker does not hesitate to foster Dash for the Kashino family, and she regularly sends letters "from" Dash to Mitzi. The other interned residents anticipate news from the dog, which effectively lifts spirits and encourages a sense of community. Although not as detailed as Winifred Conkling's Sylvia and Aki (Tricycle Press, 2011), both titles complement one another as fictionalized stories of actual events, and share the theme of courage and dignity in the face of injustice. Dash fills a niche between picture books like The Bracelet by Uchida Yoshiko (Penguin, 1993) and Barbed Wire Baseball by Marissa Moss (Abrams, 2013) and works for older audiences such as Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata (S. & S., 2006) and Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston (Houghton Mifflin, 1973). Larson's latest is historical fiction at its best.—Sharon Lawler, Texas Bluebonnet Award Committee

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2014-05-28
Eleven-year-old Mitsi Kashino and her family are forced to move to a Japanese internment camp following the attack on Pearl Harbor.The Japanese-Americans are forced to leave their homes, their jobs, and all but what they can carry. Unfortunately for Mitsi, this also means leaving her beloved dog, Dash, behind. Thankfully, a good-hearted neighbor agrees to take Dash in. The neighbor writes letters to Mitsi, composing them from Dash’s point of view, and these keep Mitsi connected with the world beyond the fence. Overcrowded living quarters, long lines and minimal resources stretch the patience of the internees and threaten the bonds of the Kashino family. However, even amid their incarceration, there are spots of hope. Mitsi and her family find new friendships, rediscover old traditions and reinvent their lives. Through it all, Mitsi holds tight to her dream of the end of the war and her reunion with Dash. Larson makes this terrible event in American history personal with the story of one girl and her beloved pet. Spot-on dialogue, careful cultural details and the inclusion of specific historical characters such as artist Eddie Sato make this an educational read as well as a heartwarming one. An author’s note adds further authenticity.This emotionally satisfying and thought-provoking book will have readers pulling for Mitsi and Dash. (Historical fiction. 8-12)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171291655
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	09/01/2014
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	1,099,944
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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