Sylvia & Aki

by Winifred Conkling

Paperback, 2013

Status

Available

Genres

Fiction

Collection

Children's Circulating

Publication

Yearling (2013), Edition: Reprint, 160 pages

Description

At the start of World War II, Japanese-American third-grader Aki and her family are sent to an internment camp in Poston, Arizona, while Mexican-American third-grader Sylvia's family leases their Orange County, California, farm and begins a fight to stop school segregation.

User reviews

LibraryThing member asomers

This book is a fictionalized account of two real young girls that shared a very special common bond in 1940's. Aki, a Japanese-American girl, is relocated with her mother and brother to an internment camp in Arizona.Meanwhile Sylvia's father takes over Aki's family farm. As Mexican-Americans they

also face discrimination . Sylvia's father sues the local board of education to end the segregation of the public school system. These are too very complicated issues , but they are handled in a manner that makes them easy for students to understand and empathize with the characters.

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LibraryThing member Phill242

Jane Addams Award winner. Sylvia and Aki are two girls whose paths cross through letters when Aki is sent to a Japanese Internment Camp and Sylvia's Mexican family lease Aki's family's land.

LibraryThing member bp0128bd

Jane Addams Award winner. Sylvia and Aki are two girls whose paths cross through letters when Aki is sent to a Japanese Internment Camp and Sylvia's Mexican family lease Aki's family's land.

LibraryThing member rgruberexcel

RGG: Sweet, brief story based upon the true story of a young girl sent with her family to a Japanese internment camp and a young girl whose father leases the Japanese family's farm and in an effort to have his children attend the local school leads the legal battle to integrate California's school.

Some of the writing is lovely, and the girls are well-drawn. Reading Level: 10-12, Lexile 760, DRA 38, FP "P"

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LibraryThing member amrahmn

This was a powerful true story about prejudice and discrimination during WWII. It was interesting how 2 families' lives interacted. Aki's family is sent to a Japanese interment camp and must leave their farm in California. Sylvia's family takes over the farm but she isn't welcome at the closer

"white" school. There is so much for 4th/5th graders to discuss with a book like this - morality, fairness, civil rights, fighting for what you believe, why governments behave the way they do.

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LibraryThing member Salsabrarian

Based on a true story, this book is packed with social and political issues: racial discrimination, the Japanese internment, wartime attitudes, and separate but equal schooling. It works primarily because it introduces children to important historical events in our country and it's a true story.

Sylvia and Aki seem too sophisticated in their thoughts and responses but kids won't notice. They'll understand friendship and injustice. Back matter provides background on the internment, the Mendez and Munemitsu families, and Mendez v. Westminster School District, which I learned was the precursor to Brown v. Board of Education. I did not know that!

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