From the Bookshelf of Mock Printz 2026…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
No group discussions for this book yet.
What Members Thought
When Ruth, a troubled eighth grade classmate, kills herself in part because of her treatment at the hands of some of her classmates, Kana Goldberg--half-Japanese and half-Jewish--is sent to her mother's family where she spends the summer working in an orchard and trying to come to terms with her own actions or lack of actions regarding Ruth. Some of her other classmates have been sent to summer school or to family or friends as well as the school community tries to come to terms with this suicid
...more
Excellent Printz candidate.
After Kana’s classmate Ruth kills herself, Kana’s parents decide to send her to Japan to spend the summer with her mother’s family. Kana –who is half Russian Jew and half Japanese – resents being sent away. She does not feel that she is to blame for Ruth’s death. Ruth had gotten on the wrong side of Lisa – the most popular girl in the eighth grade – and soon the rumors and hateful remarks began to fly amongst the rest of the eighth grade girls. While in Japan, Kana must figure out how she fits i
...more
Lovely
A Half Jewish - Half Japanese girl named Kana is trying to deal with the death of one of her classmates. In fact all the girls of her grade are trying to deal with it since it was mostly their fault, or so they believe. Ruth killed herself. She was dealing with being bipolar and none of the girls in her class knew this, they just made fun of her and said nasty things to her, but now all the girls have been sent off to spend their summers apart. Kana is in Japan with her mother's family and this
...more
This novel written in verse packs a powerful emotional punch. It is a prime example of relational aggression, and the consequences that follow for the bully and the bullied. It is absolutely worth sharing with middle school girls, where this kind of bullying is most rampant.
Kana Goldberg (half Japanese, half Jewish) is sent from America to Japan after the suicide of a classmate. This is a gorgeous book in verse that explores issues such as multiculturalism, suicide, bullying, and identity.
Well-done take on "viral suicide". Half-Japanese/Half-Jewish main character is sent to her Japanese relatives to deal with a classmate's suicide. Lots of interesting details of living in rural Japan.
...more
Jun 08, 2010
Liz
marked it as to-read
Nov 28, 2010
Sarah Gross
marked it as to-read
Apr 05, 2011
Doret
added it
Jun 10, 2011
Marianne
marked it as to-read
Aug 28, 2011
Shannon
marked it as to-read
Sep 05, 2011
Julie
marked it as to-read
Oct 08, 2011
John
marked it as to-read
Sep 01, 2015
Christina
marked it as to-read
