Ship of Dolls

May 12, 2014
Parenteau (Bears in the Bath) deftly incorporates the 1926 Friendship Dolls project—in which American children collected and sent more than 12,000 dolls to Japanese children as a gesture of friendship—into the story of 11-year-old Lexie Lewis, who has been sent to live with her strict paternal grandparents in Portland, Ore. Her father dead in a car crash and her insouciant flapper mother remarried, Lexie is struggling to adapt to her new circumstances. Her class has contributed a doll to send to Japan, and when Lexie learns she has a chance to rejoin her mother at a farewell party for the dolls in San Francisco, she’s determined to win that opportunity. While Lexie encounters more than her share of bad luck, she never stops persevering. In Parenteau’s well-conceived story, transformations come slowly and believably; Lexie warms to her grandparents and mischievous neighbor, Jack; her grandmother comes through for her in unexpected ways; and even her nemesis, a snotty classmate, shows some character. Parenteau weaves in information about the Friendship Dolls so subtly that it never overshadows Lexie’s story; an author’s note explains the project in full. Ages 8–12.

July 1, 2014

Gr 3-6-The year is 1926, and 11-year-old Lexie is having a difficult time adjusting to her new life with her grandparents in Portland, Oregon, after her widowed mother remarries. She still grieves for her father who died in a car accident and misses her fun-loving, free-wheeling (and somewhat neglectful) flapper mother. In addition, she has trouble making friends at school and finds conforming to her grandmother's "old-fashioned" set of rules a challenge. When Lexie's school offers a writing contest in which the winning student will accompany a handmade "friendship doll" to a celebration in San Francisco, she is determined to win and reunite with her mother. However, a series of white lies, a stolen contest entry, and an unexpected trip to San Francisco throw Lexie's own life into turmoil as she struggles to find happiness and do the right thing. The story is based on a historical occurrence amid growing international tensions, when more than 12,000 dolls were created by school children nationwide and shipped to Japan as a gesture of peace. Tender and funny, this story of friendship and family is reminiscent of Beverly Cleary's work. Fans of Ramona will have no trouble connecting with and rooting for lively and likable Lexie, and doll aficionados will also enjoy this engaging title.-Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2014
An 11-year-old girl living in Portland, Oregon, in 1926 learns about love when she plans to leave her protective grandparents to join her unconventional mother.Following her father's death and her mother's remarriage, Lexie was sent to live with her strict paternal grandparents, who don't approve of her free-spirited, flapper mother. When her class participates in a project to buy a doll to send with thousands of other dolls from across America to Japan for the Hinamatsuri festival, Lexie's determined to win a contest for the best letter to accompany the doll, as the winner will attend a send-off party in San Francisco, where her mother will be singing. In her frenzy to win, Lexie disappoints her teacher, grandmother and best friend, Jack, with her thoughtless acts, mishaps and half-truths. Learning from her mistakes, Lexie drafts the perfect letter-which a classmate surreptitiously steals and successfully passes off as her own. When her grandparents sacrifice to send her to San Francisco anyway, Lexie must choose between their steady love and her mother's frivolous affection. Period details from the actual 1926 exchange of Friendship Dolls provide fascinating context for this old-fashioned heroine's journey of personal growth.Historically inclined readers will enjoy this heartwarming story and its feisty heroine. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 8-12)

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August 1, 2014
Grades 3-6 Unhappily living with her grandparents in Portland, Oregon, 11-year-old Lexie Lewis longs for a chance to get to San Francisco, where her songbird mother is performing. Her school's letter-writing contest to participate in a Japanese doll exchange might be her ticket, but privileged mean-girl classmate Louise Wilkins can't afford to lose. Set in 1926, this moving description of a child's coming to terms with a new family arrangement includes a real event: an exchange of dolls between Japanese and U.S. schoolchildren conceived as a message of peace. Period details abound, but what rings most historically true is the 11-year-old's relationship with dolls: Emily Grace, who will carry goodwill messages to Japan; and Annie, recipient of confidences and not a few tears. Small lies play a big part in Lexie's troubled adjustment, and friend Jack Harmon provides support. The third-person narrative reflects Lexie's point of view, justifying her actions and revealing her growth. For doll lovers, pair this satisfying story with Kirby Larson's The Friendship Doll (2011).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

September 1, 2014
The true story of how American children sent more than twelve thousand dolls to Japan in 1927--to promote friendship, trust, and future peace--serves as backdrop to this well-crafted, involving story. Eleven-year-old Lexie must win the letter-writing contest that will earn her a trip to San Francisco to attend the dolls' farewell ceremony. She's been sent to live with her paternal grandparents in Oregon because her singer mother's new sax-playing husband doesn't want kids around, and she's desperate to see her mother, who will be in San Francisco performing at the ceremony. Lexie works hard on her letter, only to have it swiped by wealthy classmate Louise--who wins the trip. Louise's need to please her mother matches Lexie's, and the girls eventually earn each other's trust and friendship. Grandma and Lexie do the same, as it becomes clear that Lexie has inherited many qualities from both sides of her family: she has Grandma's nerves of steel and Mama's ability to make the best of things. Parenteau gives Grandma depth: she's stern and strict but highly perceptive and willing to change. Even Mama is more than a self-centered, happy-go-lucky flapper--she's merely reacting to her own rule-bound childhood and does truly love her daughter. The novel ends with a conflicted Lexie pressed to decide which relative she most trusts; by then, readers will have faith that their new friend will make a wise choice. jennifer m. brabander

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2015
Eleven-year-old Lexie must win a trip to the San Francisco send-off for Friendship Dolls bound for Japan: her mother, who has sent Lexie to live with her grandparents, will be singing at the farewell ceremony. After a classmate swipes Lexie's contest-entry letter--and wins--the girls navigate a friendship. Fully realized characters and a historical backdrop make for an involving story.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)