eBook Review: The Friendship Doll by Kirby Larson

Title: The Friendship Doll
Author: Kirby Larson
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Edition: II/ eBook English Version
Published: May 2011
Page: 208
ISBN: 978-0-375-89951-5
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction, Humanity

Synopsis:

I am Miss Kanagawa. In 1927, my 57 doll-sisters and I were sent from Japan to America as Ambassadors of Friendship. Our work wasn't all peach blossoms and tea cakes. My story will take you from New York to Oregon, during the Great Depression. Though few in this tale are as fascinating as I, their stories won't be an unpleasant diversion. You will make the acquaintance of Bunny, bent on revenge; Lois, with her head in the clouds; Willie Mae, who not only awakened my heart, but broke it; and Lucy, a friend so dear, not even war could part us. I have put this tale to paper because from those 58 Friendship Dolls only 45 remain. I know that someone who chooses this book is capable of solving the mystery of the missing sisters. Perhaps that someone is you.

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Miss Kanagawa was a doll made by Master Tatsuhiko from Japan. This doll was made to accomplish a mission of friendship and peace. Miss Kanagawa then was shipped to America with 57 other doll sisters. Even though Miss Kanagawa could not speak, but she could touch everyone hearts by her own way. Those who got miraculous touch from Miss Kanagawa were Bunny, Lois, Willie Mae, and Lucy. Those four girls had different story involving Miss Kanagawa. And, those four girls witnessed that Miss Kanagawa was the real ambassador of friendship.

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The Friendship Doll written by Kirby Larson is very heartwarming book. This book consists of 4, almost 5, different stories with different central characters. Each story has its own conflict and ending, and it makes this book worth reading. Besides, this book also presents something unusual about how a doll, something which cannot move or speak, delivers peaceful friendship and atmosphere to those who have kind heart and smooth feeling.

The main characters involved in this book are Bunny, Lois, Willie Mae, Lucy, and Miss Kanagawa. Bunny herself is a school girl who has a conflict with her classmate, who was also the grand daughter of America's president Roosevelt. Lois is a girl who is very curious about something new. Willie Mae is a girl who earns money as a book reader for an old rich lady in town. Meanwhile, Lucy is a girl who moves with his father from Oklahoma to seek for fortune. She likes writing letter. She even writes letter for Mrs. Roosevelt.

The setting of this book is mostly in several states of America. The time setting is about 1927 -1930s, just before the World War II begins. Meanwhile, the plot is very interesting to follow. You know, this book is written for middle grade, so you can guess the light plot and conflict involved here.

In my opinion, this book talks so much about friendship and life lesson. It is very nice to have this book for your kids, nieces, or your students. The story is pure and simple, but it contains so many moral lesson  every child can learn from. Besides, just because this book compiles 4 different stories, then the reader can re-read each part freely. I did so, because I got so much excitement about re-reading this book in my leisure time.

Over all, I like this book and the story revealed inside. The pure and simple but full of life lesson-story makes my heart warm. On the other hand, this book also has classic setting which makes me getting reminded of something from the past, I mean from my own childhood. Just love it!

The quotations I like the most:

"But even a perfect pear can harbor a worm within." (Chapter 3)

"Our actions make the fragrance of our lives." (Chapter 3)

"What one has to do can usually be done." (Chapter 9)

Rating: 4 out of 5 crowns

~Happy Reading~

xoxoxo