She and her brother live with her grandfather, aunt, uncle, and cousins after the death of their parents. Cynthia kadohata is the author of the newbery medalwinning book kirakira, the national book award winner the thing about luck, the jane addams peace. Her first adult novel was a new york times notable book of the year. Weedflower weedflower audiobook, by cynthia kadohata. Weedflower is the story of the rewards and challenges of a friendship across the racial divide, as well as the basedonreallife story of how the meeting of japanese. The story is set in the united states during world war ii and told from the perspective of twelveyearold japaneseamerican sumiko. She has published numerous short stories in such journals as the new yorker, ploughshares, and grand street. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read kirakira.
Cynthia kadohata 11956 chicago, illinoisauthorsince publishing her first novel, the floating world, in 1989, cynthia kadohata 2 has been viewed as one of the most compelling novelists in the united states 3. Weedflower, an excerpt from chapter one cynthia kadohata. In weedflower, newbery medalwinning author cynthia kadohata first seems to offer a sad but familiar story about families forced into. However, she finds a fresh angle by juxtaposing the prejudice against japaneseamericans with ongoing discrimination of native americans on the reservation hosting the camp. The book was centered on the poston internment camp where kadohatas father was imprisoned during the world war. Weedflower, cynthia kadohatas historical young adult fiction, is narrated by twelveyearold japaneseamerican sumiko, whose family struggles with their multinational identity throughout world war ii and americas bitter, paranoid relationship with japan. She won the national book award in young peoples literature in 20 for the thing about luck. Publication date 2009 topics evacuation and relocation of japanese americans united states. Weedflower, cynthia kadohata s historical young adult fiction, is narrated by twelveyearold japaneseamerican sumiko, whose family struggles with their multinational identity throughout world war ii and americas bitter, paranoid relationship with japan. This time the novel is set in the southwest before and during world war ii. Kadohatas fathers family lived in an internment camp on the colorado river indian reservation during world war ii, and the story provides a fictionalized look at. After the japanese bomb pearl harbor, her family must sell the farm and all their belongings. We follow sumiko through her normal school days and trying to fit in and make friends through discrimination and racism, intentional or unintentional, brought on by fear and doubt, and eventually into an internment weedflower is the story. Weedflower is a 2006 american childrens historical novel by cynthia kadohata, the author of the awardwinning kirakira.
She lives with her dog and hockeyplaying son in california. I assume that you are asking about the characters from cynthia kadohatas book weedflower. Fiction twelveyearold sumiko feels her life has been made up of two parts. Cynthia kadohata biography life, family, childhood. A place to belong book by cynthia kadohata, julia kuo. Cynthia kadohata born july 2, 1956 is a japanese american childrens writer best known for her young adult novel kirakira which won the newbery medal in 2005. Twelveyearold sumiko and her little brother taktak live with their aunt and uncle on a flower farm in california. Kadohata brings into play some complex issues, but they realistically dovetail with sumikos growth from child to young woman. Free weedflower study unit worksheets for teachers to print. Cynthia kadohata is the author of the national book award winner the thing about luck. Free weedflower worksheets and literature unit for. She knew quite a few elderly farmers and put me in touch with four or five of them who had been in camps during wwii. Main character, sumiko tends the flower fields on her familys farm.
Other than kirakira, what other books have you published. Kadohata s fathers family lived in an internment camp on the colorado river indian reservation during world war ii, and the story provides a fictionalized look at. Jun 30, 2008 weedflower ebook written by cynthia kadohata. Cynthia kadohata discusses her life and her books, in particular kirakira, her first book for children, which won the 2005 newbery award.
Weedflower book by cynthia kadohata official publisher. Cynthia kadohata is a japanese american writer known for writing coming of age stories about asian american women. She is an american girl, a japanese niece, an orphan, a big sister, a hard worker, and a. Weedflower is the story of the rewards and challenges of a friendship across the racial divide, as well as the basedonreal. Weedflower is the story of how her family struggled with discrimination and mistrust during world war ii.
Weedflower by cynthia kadohata 2006, hardcover for sale. Postpearl harbor japaneseamerican internment is seen from the eyes of a young girl who eventually manages to bloom after she is uprooted and planted in the arizona desert. Cynthia kadohatas first novel, kirakira, was an impressive book. Sumiko is the only japanese student in her sixth grade class, and she often feels lonely and isolated at school. Cynthia kadohata s website this bio was last updated on 06262017.
Weedflower is based on the experiences of cynthia kadohata s father living in a japanese internment camp after the bombing of pearl harbor. Cynthia kadohata discusses her life and her books, in particular kirakira, her first book for children, which won the 2005 newbery award other than kirakira, what other books have you published. Free weedflower worksheets and literature unit for teachers. In weedflower, newbery medalwinning author cynthia kadohata first seems to offer a sad but familiar story about families forced into internment camps. His experiences and those of the tens of thousands of other japanese and japanese americans compelled her to write weedflower. She is an american girl, a japanese niece, an orphan, a big sister, a hard worker, and a schoolgirl who wants to fit in.
Publication date 2006 topics japanese americans, world war, 19391945, mohave indians, indians of north america, japanese americans, world war, 19391945, mohave indians, indians of north america publisher. Kadohatas third book was centered on a war dogs perspective and was published in the year 2007. Newbery medalwinning author cynthia kadohata explores an important and painful topic through the eyes of a young girl who yearns to belong. Weedflower is the story of the rewards and challenges of a friendship across the racial divide, as well as the basedonreallife story. Even when the other kids tease her, she always has had her flowers and family to go h. Cynthia kadohata s first novel, kirakira, was an impressive book. In 2005, kadohata was hard at work on her next childrens book, weedflower, slated to be released in 2006. Twelveyearold sumiko feels her life has been made up of two parts. Comprehension by chapter, vocabulary challenges, creative reading response activities and projects, tests, and much more. Photos and text on this website may not be reused electronically or in print without. Cynthia kadohata follows her recent newbery medal winner kirakira with another powerful portrayal of the human spirit in weedflower. Kadohatas second novel was titled weedflower and was published in the year, 2006.
Weedflower book by cynthia kadohata official publisher page. At the same time, she has tended to be described as a japanese american writer, a distinction the author feels is both flattering and misleading. Weedflower is the story of the rewards and challenges of a friendship across the racial divide, as well as the basedonreallife story of how the meeting of japanese americans and native americans changed the future of both. Cynthia kadohata is the author of the newbery medalwinning book kirakira, the national book award winner the thing about luck, the jane addams peace award and pen america award winner weedflower, cracker. With searing insight and clarity, newbery medalwinning author cynthia kadohata explores an important and painful topic through the eyes of a young girl who yearns to belong. She is a sympathetic heroine, surrounded by wellcrafted, fascinating people. Historical fiction sumiko, is twelve, japanese american, and living in california in 1942.
I love revisiting historical events that may have been touched upon briefly in the history books i read while i was attending school. Cynthia kadohatas father was held in the poston internment camp during world war ii. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read weedflower. Kadohata is the author of kirakira, winner of the 2005 newbery medal and a new york times bestseller. Cynthia kadohata is the author of the newbery medalwinning book kirakira, the jane addams peace award and pen usa award winner weedflower, cracker. She has written three novels for adults, and her stories have appeared. Weedflower is based on the experiences of cynthia kadohatas father living in a japanese internment camp after the bombing of pearl harbor. Weedflower by kadohata, cynthia and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Newbery medalwinning author cynthia kadohata explores an important and painful topic through the eyes of a young girl. We try to keep bookbrowses biographies both up to date and accurate, but with many thousands of lives to keep track of its a tough task. Cynthia kadohata is the author of the newbery medalwinning book kirakira, the national book awardwinning novel the thing about luck, the jane addams childrens book award and pen usa awardwinning weedflower, and the critically acclaimed half a world away, cracker. Mar 01, 2006 weedflower is the story of how her family struggled with discrimination and mistrust during world war ii. Since publishing her first novel, the floating world, in 1989, cynthia kadohata has been viewed as one of the most compelling novelists in the united states. Sumiko is the only japanese student in her sixth grade class, and she often feels.
Find cynthia kadohata on amazon at the time i was writing weedflower, my friend naomi hirahara was writing a book about japaneseamerican flower farmers. The floating world, in the heart of the valley of love, and the glass mountains. The only japanese student in her class, sumiko longs for friends and acceptance. The fictionalized accounts give me a much better feel for how these events affected actual peoples lives. The concise yet lyrical prose conveys her story in a compelling narrative that will resonate with a wide audience. Although kirakira is my first novel written specifically for young readers, all three of. Raised on a flower farm in california, sumiko is used to being the only japanese girl in her class. Even when the other kids tease her, she always has had her. Cynthia kadohata s father was held in the poston internment camp during world war ii. Although kirakira is my first novel written specifically for. Like her previous novels, weedflower was inspired by her familys history. The cover photography of the first edition is by kamil vojnar. Weedflower is the story of sumiko, a japaneseamerican born in america. I had the great pleasure of meeting her in 2007 at the jane addams childrens book award ceremony where her novel, weedflower, won the award for older children.