Cherry Blossom Winter

     Cherry Blossom Winter is a the sequel to When the Cherry Blossoms Fell, written by Jennifer Maruno and published in 2012. Intended for readers aged 12 and up, this multicultural fiction chapter book follows a young Japanese girl, Michiko, and her family as the government forces families to relocate time and time again, after World War I until eventually she moves to Ontario, Canada. "Recently, there have been several books that examine both the events and the nature of this war from the perspective of those left behind as well as those on the front lines" (Galda, Cullinan, & Sipe, 2011). This is somewhat true for Cherry Blossom Winter, as it fades back and forth from Michiko's father to herself, but does this more so in the first book than in this one. Cherry Blossom Winter is a heart grasping story of exodus will have readers all over the globe appreciating the Japanese culture and immigrants as a whole.
     For my twelfth blog entry on (mostly) multicultural children's literature, I wanted to write about my favorite culture in the world: Japanese. From the care that parents give their children to the love elders get even in the final moments of life, I am enthralled with the respectful and beautiful culture. I love the symbolic language they use, and their ever lasting culture that is even popular in America (koi fish, for example). "'You need to practice writing down your dreams,' her mother explained. 'All the people in Japan record their first dream of Hatusyume'" (Maruno, 2012). I love reading dialouge like this because as the characters explain their culture to readers, I think it embraces diversity which is such an important message. I read an interview with Maruno, and she said her inspiration came to her at a young age "When  I was a teenager, I baby-sat for a Japanese Canadian family. They often used phrases I didn’t understand, such as 'that was before we went to camp,' or 'our free ride to the mountains'" (Maruno, 2012) When I saw Cherry Blossom Winter at my local library, I immediately picked it up and began reading. I absolutely love this book and find it very hard to put down!
     To break the genre Cherry Blossom Winter even further from just fiction, I would categorize it as historical fiction because it is set in times of World War II. The text is accurate and the "setting affects plot and character: as well as including "authenticity of details and language" (Galda, Cullinan, & Sipe, 2011). Page 257 in Literature and the Child provides a detailed list of what historical fiction must accomplish:

"Historical Accuracy

•  Events and attitudes are consistent with historical evidence and appropriate to the time period.
•  Social issues are portrayed honestly, without condoning racism and sexism.

Literary quality

•  The work meets the criteria for all good narratives
• The setting is integral to the story and evokes a vivid historical time consistent with historical and geographical evidence.
•  The language patterns are historically authentic and in keeping with the mood and characterization, yet still understandable to readers.
•  Characters are well developed - with feelings, values, and behavior that reflect the historical period.
• The plot is based on authentic facts that are subordinate to the story itself
• The theme echos larger historical concerns"  (Galda, Cullinan, & Sipe, 2011).

     The book is a sequel to a best seller because the author, Maruno, grew up in Canada, where the bulk of these stories take place. It is evident that she has done research through photographs, interviews, and reading original news stories from that time. She in very well informed and tells Michiko's story very well.
      6th-8th grade classrooms would benefit the most from reading this book. In my 6th grade class, I would ask students to read this in the second semester of school (When the Cherry Blossoms Fell being the first) and along the way would ask them to write one page responses to how the book makes them feel, and how it compares and contrasts to the first book. I could ask students to draw, with their preferred method of medium, and accurate and detailed image of the Japanese culture. Students could choose a photograph and copy it from there so it wouldn't need to be from memory or imagination. These pictures can include anything from Japanese nature to family portraits. My reader response questions would be:

1. What city does Cherry Blossom Winter begin in?
2. Who is Michiko's teacher, and how did he become a teacher?
3. Michiko's mother is pregnant. What can you predict will happen, knowing that the big move to Ontario is coming up? (This question would be asked toward the beginning of the book. I would ask more about the pregnancy as students continued to read).

References

      Galda, L., Cullinan, B. E., & Sipe, L. R. (2011). Literature and the Child. (7th ed., pp. 24-260). Belmont: Wadsworth Pub Co.   
      Maruno, J. (2012). Cherry Blossom Winter. (1st ed.). Tanowanda, NY: Dundurn.
      Maruno, J. (2012, September 01). Interview by Caitlyn N/A [Web Based Recording]. Author Interview with Jennifer Maruno. Defining Canada, New York., Retrieved from http://www.definingcanada.ca/2012/09/01/author-interview-with-jennifer-maruno/