Paper Wishes

Ten-year-old Manami lives with her family on Bainbridge Island in 1942. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, her family and other Japanese Americans are forced to leave their homes and relocate to internment camps. Manami must adjust to life at the Manzanar internment camp in California, where dust storms rage and barbed wire fences contain thousands of displaced families. She stops speaking after arriving at the camp, expressing herself instead through drawings that she releases into the wind as "paper wishes." The story traces Manami's experiences over the course of her first year at Manzanar, focusing on her relationships with family members and her struggle to process trauma and loss. Her personal journey unfolds against the backdrop of a dark chapter in American history, exploring themes of resilience, cultural identity, and the enduring bonds between family members during times of hardship.

Most readers find this book to be a moving portrayal of Japanese internment during WWII through a child's perspective. They note the story balances heavy themes with moments of hope. Readers appreciate: - Clear, authentic voice of 10-year-old narrator - Historical accuracy and educational value - Emotional depth without being overwhelming for young readers - Short length that keeps children engaged Common criticisms: - Some find the ending abrupt - A few readers wanted more character development - Parents note it may be too sad for sensitive children Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (115+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Perfect introduction to this difficult topic for middle grade students" -Goodreads reviewer "My 11-year-old daughter read it twice and it sparked important conversations" -Amazon parent "Wished for more resolution at the end" -School librarian on Goodreads

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🗞️ Author Lois Sepahban was inspired to write Paper Wishes after discovering that her husband's family had been incarcerated at Manzanar during World War II. 🏛️ Manzanar, where the story takes place, was one of ten Japanese internment camps in the United States, and is now a National Historic Site managed by the National Park Service. 📝 The paper cranes in the story symbolize hope and healing, drawing from the Japanese tradition of folding 1,000 paper cranes (senbazuru) to make a wish come true. 🌲 The story's setting on Bainbridge Island is historically accurate - it was the first place where Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes following Executive Order 9066. 🎨 The novel's themes of loss and resilience were partly influenced by Sepahban's experiences as a special education teacher working with children facing various challenges.