Thompson, H. (2011). Orchards. New York, NY: Delacorte Books for Young Readers. In the summer after 8th grade, each of the 8th grade girls is sent away. Kana is sent to Japan to help in the Mikan orange orchard of her mother's childhood home; and to reflect, as each of the 8th grade girls is instructed, on the suicide hanging of one of their classmates in an apple orchard at home. At first, Kana who is half Japanese and half Russian Jewish, feels awkward and out of place under the scrutiny of her very traditional grandmother and resentful that she has been sent away. Kana is also haunted by the death of the classmate, who was teased and ostracized by the other girls.
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| apple orchard |
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| mikan orchard |
Over the summer, Kana comes to terms with her Japanese ancestry, traditions and celebrations while also coming to grips with the realization that she and her classmates were more than a little responsible for the suicide back home. The story is told in a lyrical manner -- written in almost poetic short bursts of verses. Mid to older teens and young adults will relate to Kana's feelings about being far from home, going to a new school and trying to fit in. Kana learns valuable lessons about honor and duty to family as well as what it's like to be the one on the outside of the popular crowd. When tragedy strikes another of the 8th grade girls, Kana, with her grandmother's help, is finally able to release her feelings of guilt and shame and returns home to find a way for all of the 8th graders to atone for their actions.
Orchards is a winner of the APALA Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature
An ALA-YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book
visit Holly Thompson's website for further multicultural readings
