ELLEN SCHWARTZ

Vancouver, British Columbia, 1942. When best friends Esther and Michiko spot the beautiful Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret dolls in the local toy store window, they long to get the dolls for their shared birthday. But when Esther receives one doll and Michiko doesn’t receive the other, their friendship starts to unravel. How will Esther repair things with her far-away best friend?

 

The story is set against the backdrop of increasing hostility and suspicion directed at the Japanese Canadian community. Restrictions placed on Japanese Canadians are also increasing— culminating in the Internment.

 

"Young readers will be engaged by the interaction between Esther and Michi while learning how the disruption of war affected everyone. The girls’ obsession with princess dolls is delightfully portrayed, and Mariko Ando’s evocative black-and-white illustrations add to the charm of this sweet and haunting story."

— Quill and Quire

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The Year's Best 2018 — Resource Links

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Named to Best Books for Kids and Teens — Canadian Children's Book Centre

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Winner of the Western Canada Jewish Book Award

Chosen for PJ Library

Nominated for the Vine Award for Canadian Jewish Literature

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Tradewind Books, 2018

220 pages, ages 7 to 11

!SBN cloth 13: 974-192690081  ISBN paper 13: 976-1926890296

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