A Jar of Dreams

by Yoshiko Uchida

Book Overview

A young girl grows up in a closely-knit Japanese American family in California during the 1930's, a time of great prejudice.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689502109
• ISBN13: 9780689502101
• Release Date: July 1981
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.6" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 10 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 9

Customer Reviews

Awesome story to read!

I was impressed with the story I found in this book. Before reading it, I wasn't expecting such a dramatic story. Now that it is over, I wish there was a sequel! Rinko is a young, Japanese girl. She lives in California with her parents and two brothers. There are two important parts of American History that are hurting Rinko's life. First, it's the Depression, and lack of money. Secondly, and more painful to Rinko: it's how the Japanese are hated among people. This summertime story brings out and shows meaningful changes in Rinko's life, and how she things about the world around her. I really recommend reading this book!

loved this book

This book shows how people who work hard and believe in themselves can achieve their dreams.

Five Stars

I read each page of this book and was captivated by the intense empathy the author demonstrated to the Japanese American. Japanese American's love America and have experience racism, bigotry, and cruelty. Aunt Waka tells Rinko, she could never live in a land that treated her as a foreigner. Rinko is encouraged by her Aunt Waka to "do her best", "never forget her Japanese heritage", and "to remember her Grandparents in Japan". Aunt Waka and Uncle Kanda fight intensely to persuade both Cal and Rinko to gain a college education, be competitive, have faith, and dream of the future. The story ends with a surreal connection between Aunt Waka, self actualization example and Rinkos realization that Aunt Waka practice what she preach. Rinko chooses to remember Aunt Waka before and after rather than Mr. Starr. Papa and Uncle Kanda confront Mr. Wilbur Starr and tell him that "he should not be afraid of fair competition." Uncle Kanda invests his money to open a garage. The friendship saves the family, as the economic depression begins to dryup cash. This is an amazing miracle of love and faith. The dream of Japan, the beauty of the culture, heroism, transcendant love, and generational connectedness is worthy of five stars. American's ache for tight knit connectedness that the Japanese culture offers. I plan on reading all of Yoshiko Uchida's books. So many life changing events are described in these books.

A BOOK WITH MAJOR EXCITMENT!

If you like excitment this is a great story for you! It is about a little Japenesse girl. Her parents lived in japan but she was born in the U.S when they crossed over. Her Aunt is still in Japan. Many hard things happen. And I want you to read this book to find them out.

jar of dreams

Jar of Dreams is about Rinko a Japanese american girl. she lives in California and kids at school and just people in general say racial slurs to her, which makes her resent wish she didn't looks so Japanese. her family is barley making their payments. her dad is a barber but really wishes to be a mechanich and her mom cleans other peoples house. then Rinko's mom decides to start her own landry business, and the competing landrymat trys to get even. thinkgs start to change when Rinko's aunt Waka from japan comes for the summer and changes everyones attitudes. Everyone is Rinkos family begins to stand up for themselves and decides to go for their dreams. Rinko's dad decides to start a mechanic shop, Rinkos brother goes back to college to become a engineer and Rinko's mom keeps up her laundry service. i really recomend reading this book