The Fences Between Us by Kirby Larson

At the Washington Library Media Association conference in October I attended a session led by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery, authors of The Two Bobbies and Nubs. Kirby also talked briefly about her new book, The Fences Between Us: The Diary of Piper Davis. This is the first in the Scholastic Dear America series to be published in 5 years.fences

I have really enjoyed some of the other Dear America books, so I thought it would be great to add this book, by a local Seattle author to our library collection. The story takes place in Seattle during World War II. Piper’s brother joins the Navy and is soon assigned to the USS Enterprise. Piper’s mother died when Piper was very young, and her father is the pastor of a Japanese Baptist church. In December of 1941, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, life changes dramatically for citizens of Japanese heritage and for Piper. She worries about her brother, and deals with the realities of incarceration as her father follows the members of his church went they are sent away first to Puyallup and then to Minidoka, an incarceration camp in Idaho. This story is historical fiction and is based partially upon the life of Pastor Emery “Andy” Andrews.

I have to admit that prior to reading this book, I had very little knowledge about this grim part of US History. Growing up on the East Coast, my relatives had served in WWII in France and Germany. In high school in California and in college in Maine, when we were taught about the war, nothing was said about the Japanese incarceration camps in our own country. It’s really only been in the last few years that I have started to learn more about this sad chapter of history. Kirby Larson’s book is a welcome addition to anyone interested in this aspect of American History.

 


Students, here are some related research topics. Minidoka, Japanese incarceration, Pastor Emory “Andy” Andrews, Issei, Nikkei, USS Arizona, bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japantown, Puyallup Assembly Center, Camp Harmony, Minidoka Irrigator, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Civil Liberties Act, Densho Project.

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One thought on “The Fences Between Us by Kirby Larson

  1. I’ve been learning more about the Japanese-Americans during this time, too – I read “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” by Jamie Ford a couple months ago – it tells the story of two children – one Chinese and one Japanese – who live in the International District in Seattle during WW2.

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